Britain may see an exceptional season for butterfly numbers, after warm and dry spring weather helped increase numbers of several species, according to a British charity dedicated to their protection.

These positive indicators, according to the BBC, coincided with the launch of the annual 'Big Butterfly Count' campaign by Butterfly Conservation, based in East Lulworth, Dorset, which calls on the public to record the species and numbers of butterflies they see.

Dr. Dan Hoare, director of nature restoration efforts at the charity, said current climatic conditions are giving butterflies a chance to spread and expand into new areas. He added: 'I have seen 3 or 4 species in southern England moving away from their usual habitats.'

The initiative runs from July 17 to August 9. Participants are asked to choose a specific location, observe butterflies and some species of day-flying moths there for 15 minutes, and then record their sightings via the initiative's website or app.

For her part, Professor Helen Roy, a researcher at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the University of Exeter, said the positive indicators for butterflies could be evidence of improving conditions for other insect species.

She explained that butterfly numbers have seen a long-term decline since the 1970s, due to the destruction or degradation of their natural habitats.

However, Roy expressed optimism about recent initiatives, including the 'No Mow May' campaign, which encourages individuals to let grass grow naturally during May, providing butterflies with more space to feed and breed.

She stressed that helping butterflies does not require complex measures, but can be achieved by letting gardens grow more spontaneously and ecologically diverse. She added: 'If more of us create such safe havens, we can form an interconnected network covering the country. I am pleased to think that we can achieve that and help butterflies thrive.'