This year’s slow spring and soggy summer could pose a risk to the UK’s common butterflies, wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC) has warned.

The charity is asking people in Scotland to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count so experts can chart the effects of the poor weather conditions on species like the Red Admiral, Small Copper and Green-veined White butterflies.

BC’s head of recording, Richard Fox, said: “Cold, wet weather can have a disastrous effect on butterfly numbers as the conditions reduce their opportunity to feed and mate.

“This year butterflies have endured a slow start to spring with cold conditions experienced during March and snow falling widely well into April, which was colder than average.

“Despite a few warm weeks in May, June was a washout for many parts of the UK with sightings of butterflies down on previous years.”

This year’s soggy weather follows on from last year’s colder than average summer, meaning a sustained spell of warm and dry weather is much needed to help our common butterfly species mount a recovery.

The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey, which encourages people to spot and record 18 species of common butterflies and two day-flying moths during three weeks of high summer.

Richard added: “It is crucial that we gain a clearer picture of how our butterflies are faring and the Big Butterfly Count helps us to do this.”

To celebrate the launch of the 2016 Big Butterfly Count, a free family event is taking place in Falkirk on Friday, July 15.

Guided butterfly walks will take place from 11am and 1pm at Falkirk Wheel, which is surrounded by butterfly-friendly habitat, including meadows and flower-rich canalways.

Staff from BC Scotland and Scottish Canals will show people how to identify the butterflies found in the area, like the Common Blue, Ringlet and Meadow Brown.

Guided butterfly walks are also taking place at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Saturday 16 July, for anyone who wants to learn more about butterflies and the Big Butterfly Count.

More than three-quarters of the UK’s butterflies have declined in the last 40 years with some common species, such as the Small Tortoiseshell, suffering significant slumps.

The Big Butterfly Count, now in its seventh year, helps Butterfly Conservation find out how our common species are faring and how to best protect them in the future. More than 50,000 people took part last year, counting around 600,000 butterflies.

The Big Butterfly Count is sponsored by Waitrose and John Lewis. Tor Harris, head of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing at Waitrose, said: "We are delighted to be backing the Big Butterfly Count this year and we hope that people up and down the UK will get involved with the Count, download the app and share their exciting butterfly sightings."

Stephen Cawley, head of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing at John Lewis, said: “As part of our education programme, Bringing Skills to Life, we’re excited to be supporting the Big Butterfly Count. We’ve teamed up with Butterfly Conservation and created a wide range of resources and activities to help children throughout the country learn more about these beautiful creatures.”

The Count runs from July 15 to August 7. Taking part in the Count is very easy - find a sunny spot and spend 15 minutes counting the butterflies you see and then submit sightings online at bigbutterflycount.org or via the free Big Butterfly Count app.

For more information on the Falkirk and Edinburgh events taking place on July 15-16, please visit: butterfly-conservation.org/ScotlandCount