THE Warrington Nature Conservation Forum (WNCF) is urging people to join the Big Butterfly Count this summer.

Butterfly Conservation has created the challenge to act as a nationwide survey aimed at assessing the health of the environment.

WNCF media manager, Paul Speak, said: "This is a great annual event and just like the Garden Bird Count anyone can take part.

"All you need to do is to log onto the Butterfly Conservation web page and download a The Big Butterfly Count Chart containing 19 species of butterflies and count how many you see in a place in 15 minutes.

"The results can then be easily entered on your mobile or PC."

Last year, more than 100,000 people took part, submitting 97,133 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham launched the Big Butterfly Count on BBC One.

He is also patron of Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve in Warrington where you can find most varieties of butterflies.

Chris said: "We need the raw data to learn more about the natural world and what is happening to butterflies- it is good science.

"This is also a great opportunity to get people outdoors and help improve their mental health.

"We are proud to be doing this in association with MIND this year."

WNCF chair, Geoff Settle, added: "I’ve seen most of the butterflies on The Big Butterfly Count Chart this year and all within a five minutes walk of my house."

The Big Butterfly Count continues until August 11 and more information can be found by visiting the Butterfly Conservation

website.