New Survey Reveals Butterflies as Most Loved British Wild Creatures by People in Their Childhood Memories
Wednesday 10 December, 2025
A recent survey conducted by nature and climate charity Heal Rewilding has revealed that butterflies were the most loved British wild creatures by people in their childhood memories. The survey, called The Spark, asked participants to recall real-life experiences with wildlife during their childhood. The results provide insight into past nature experiences, generational differences, and the changing abundance of the natural world.
Participants were given a list of common British wild creatures and asked to choose all the ones they loved as children. The colorful and graceful butterflies emerged as the most loved creature, selected by 70% of respondents. Birds came in a close second at 69%, followed by ladybirds at 65%. Tadpoles (58%) and hedgehogs (54%) rounded out the top five, with caterpillars not far behind at 52%. Slugs came in last, but were still fondly remembered by 9% of respondents. Surprisingly, spiders were the second least loved creature, with 18% of respondents choosing them as a childhood favorite.
When asked to pick an overall favorite from all the creatures they had chosen, birds were the clear winner with 19% of respondents selecting them as their most loved creature. Butterflies came in second with 11% of the votes, followed by hedgehogs, tadpoles, and ladybirds.
The survey also gave participants the option to name other creatures that were not on the list. Badgers were mentioned by 22 people, while others chose hares, red squirrels, and even leeches. One participant mentioned the corncrake, a species that is now extinct in most of the UK, highlighting the poignant memories associated with it.
Only 1.7% of respondents said they did not love any wild creatures as children.
The survey also asked respondents who sparked their love for nature as a child, allowing them to choose all relevant answers. The results showed that 64% credited a parent or guardian, 27% credited a grandparent, and 16% credited a teacher. Meanwhile, 39% of respondents said they discovered nature for themselves as children.
The survey also revealed a generational shift in how respondents encountered nature in school. Over 40% remembered having a nature table, a staple in classroom life, but this experience was mostly reported by people aged 40 and above. Younger respondents rarely recalled having one. In contrast, those aged 20-39 were more likely to have had access to a school wildlife garden or outdoor area, suggesting a shift from indoor observation to structured, designated outdoor spaces. 21% of respondents said their school had no space for nature at all.
The survey also allowed participants to share their stories, with over 900 comments being made. Many of these comments expressed sadness, regret, and even anger at the loss of species, abundance, and access to wilder places where children once played. Some respondents remembered fields full of cowslips, the sound of grasshoppers, and plentiful tadpoles, which contrasted with the perceived quieter and depleted countryside today.
Jan Stannard, co-founder and CEO of Heal, says: “The findings of The Spark were fascinating, and we loved finding out more about people’s childhood memories. We were struck by the amusing, poignant, but sometimes heartbreaking stories of the loss of so much wildlife. Together, the findings paint a rich picture of the spontaneous, abundant, and often intergenerational experiences that shaped people’s early relationships with wildlife.
Stannard also raised an important question about the changing nature of encounters with everyday wildlife. As these experiences become more managed and formalized, are we losing the spontaneous curiosity that once came from children discovering wildlife on their own and freely roaming in their neighborhoods or the countryside? She emphasized the need to make space for nature and ensure access to wilder places for all.
The survey was open to anyone aged 10+, but the majority of respondents were aged 40-79, with the largest group being aged 60-69. This may reflect the audience who saw the survey or may indicate a widening disconnect between younger people and everyday nature.
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