Norfolk's butterflies are battling to survive amid habitat loss and climate change, warns a new report.

Most species have declined in either abundance, distribution or both in the past five decades, according to the State of the UK’s Butterflies report by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.

It says habitat loss has led to dramatic declines in those species that require flower-rich grassland, heath and woodland clearings to thrive.

Eastern Daily Press: Butterflies which require flower-rich grassland have declined sharply Butterfly Conservation/Neil HulmButterflies which require flower-rich grassland have declined sharply Butterfly Conservation/Neil Hulm (Image: Butterfly Conservation/Neil Hulm)

These species have, on average, decreased by more than a quarter in abundance and lost over two-thirds of their distribution since 1976.

Butterfly species that can breed in the farmed countryside and urban areas have also declined by around a fifth in abundance and lost almost a tenth of their range.

Distribution of the Swallowtail butterfly, which is found almost exclusively in Norfolk, has fallen by a quarter since 1976 according to the report although overall numbers are stable probably due to work by conservation charities in protected areas.

Eastern Daily Press: A Purple Emperor in a Norfolk wood Picture: Mike GassonA Purple Emperor in a Norfolk wood Picture: Mike Gasson (Image: Mike Gasson)

But the Purple Emperor has returned to Norfolk and Silver-Washed Fritillaries have become far more widespread.

Conservationists are waiting to see how butterfly numbers perform in 2023 after the long, hot, dry summer experienced in Norfolk last year which saw caterpillars' food plants scorched and dried up.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science for Butterfly Conservation, said: “This comprehensive stock-take of the state of the UK’s butterflies reveals the huge scale of the challenge to halt and reverse the decline in butterfly populations in the years ahead.

Eastern Daily Press: Two Swallowtail butterflies at Strumpshaw Fen Picture: Valerie BondTwo Swallowtail butterflies at Strumpshaw Fen Picture: Valerie Bond (Image: Valerie Bond)

"Thanks to tens of thousands of people who contribute sightings through the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and Big Butterfly Count, we have data to plot the changing fortunes of our butterflies.

"What is needed now is a step-change in government support to bring butterflies and other wildlife back to the UK’s nature reserves, farmland, forests and built-up areas."