Allerton Project shows moths are increasing, despite national plunge in population: Our letter published in The Guardian

While moths are maybe showing a steady population drop nationally, Dr Callum Macgregor is correct to observe that the situation is not “almost hopeless” (Moth survey shows steady decline in Britain since 1980s, 12 November). The Allerton Project Research Farm in Leicestershire joined the same long-term survey 25 years ago, while making changes to our farming and wildlife management. Since then, both the numbers and species diversity of moths have increased. Outside the Common Agricultural Policy and, with the right incentives, other farmers could turn this single result into a national trend.

Alastair Leake

Director of Policy GWCT