Earth Day 2023: The Butterfly Effect
22 April 2023
On Earth Day, when the world comes together to take action to invest in our planet, we can take inspiration from the ultimate symbol of the climate emergency; the butterfly. With half of all British butterfly species on the red list (at risk of extinction), their eco systems are hypersensitive to climate change, reminding us of the fragile beauty of the natural world and what we stand to lose.
The Box holds a collection of around 60,000 butterflies collected throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Museum butterfly collections are increasingly important in climate change research and communication. We already know that many species are moving further north into areas that previously would have been too cold. New museum research now tells us that adult butterflies are growing larger due to warmer conditions in the larval stage.
Butterflies can offer us hope when we feel that we face an overwhelming set of problems. Their incredible transformation from caterpillar to butterfly has been used to represent rebirth across many cultures and they are often used as a spiritual symbol of the soul. Butterfly imagery surrounds us every day, whether in art or film, or use by charities supporting mental health, grief and loss to express hope for a better future.
When we look closely, we can find messages of hope amongst butterfly species that have been able to adapt or been given a helping hand to prosper. In 2022, The Box acquired a new cabinet of butterflies from the late collector Barry Ofield.
His collection includes the very special heath fritillary, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies, brought back from the brink of extinction by Barry who worked tirelessly to reintroduce them along the Devon and Cornwall border.
Also amongst his butterflies - now on display in our Active Archive gallery - you will find the purple hairstreak. Its range has recently extended, perhaps due to improvements in air quality in some urban areas.
What can you do to help butterflies and other insects?
Small changes can have big consequences, just as they say the flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado on the other side of the world. Why not:
- Make a home for butterflies in your garden by doing nothing! Leave your grass to grow long, leave fallen fruit on the ground, don’t tidy too much over winter and avoid pesticides.
- Contribute to real conservation science by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count from Friday 14 July to Sunday 6 August. Register at the Big Butterfly Count website.
- Join us today as we take part in the Wild Escape, a UK celebration of wildlife and creativity. We will be focusing on Britain’s rarest bee, the six-banded nomad bee, found only in one location in South Devon through crafts and talks and imagine a better future for our pollinators.
With thanks to Sarah Marden, Natural History Curator.