LEGENDARY broadcaster Sir David Attenborough is warning of a ‘soggy summer risk’ to butterflies in Dorset.

As president of the Lulworth-based Butterfly Conservation charity he fears this year’s slow spring and wet summer could pose a risk to the colourful insects.

Urging the public to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which launches today (FriJuly15), Sir David said that people’s sightings were vital in order to chart the effects of the poor weather conditions.

Events are taking place in Dorset this weekend as part of the count (see below).

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 in March and snow falling 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.

This year’s soggy weather follows on from last year’s colder than average summer.

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.

Sir David Attenborough said: “Last year’s wet and cold summer made life difficult for many of our butterflies and coupled with this year’s late spring, our Red Admirals, Small Coppers, Green-veined Whites and Speckled Woods really need a boost of warm summer weather to enable them to thrive.

“It is vitally important that we gain a clearer picture of how our butterflies are faring. That is why taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is so important – it helps us build a picture of how butterflies are doing in our own neighbourhoods and what help they need from us.”

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.