THE soggy summer has put butterflies at risk as Sir David Attenborough is urging people to take part in the Big Butterfly Count.

A host of events have been planned across West Berkshire to help keep track of the beautiful winged wonders.

Now in its seventh year, 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.

The survey can be done in any green space, but People are also being invited to take part at a number of free public events.

These include: Fence Wood Hermitage on July 30. Meet at 10.30am on Slanting Hill.

Greenham Common on August 4. Meet at 11am at the control tower car park.

Hundred Acre Piece, Mortimer on August 13. Meet in Stephen’s Firs cul-de-sac at 10.30am.

Lardon Chase, Streatley on August 20. Meet in the National Trust car park on the A4009 at 10.30am.

Paices Wood, Aldermaston on August 21. Meet at the entrance south of Youngs Industrial Estate, off the A340, at 10.30am.

Cold, wet weather can have a disastrous effect on butterfly numbers as the conditions reduce their opportunity to feed and mate, making this year a particularly bad one for them.

Butterfly Conservation President, Sir David, said: “During my lifetime I have seen first-hand how the UK’s once plentiful butterflies have dwindled and diminished, with some species even becoming extinct.

“This is a gloomy outlook but not one that is set in stone. We must make sure these losses are halted and reversed, but in order to achieve this we first need to find out as much information about our butterflies as possible.

“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.