Insect Numbers in Kent Plummet by Two-Thirds
Insect populations across Kent are continuing to fall sharply, according to new and “troubling” findings from the 2025 Bugs Matter survey. The latest results show a staggering 66% drop in flying insects across the county in just five years.
“Insects… are incredibly important to maintaining healthy environments and delivering the services that we and other animals rely upon – from healthy soils… to pollinating crops,” said Andrew Whitehouse of Buglife, an invertebrate conservation trust which co-authored the report with Kent Wildlife Trust.
“Urgent action is needed to restore nature at scale and reduce threats like pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change,” he added.
The annual “splat survey”, run by citizen scientists, measures insect numbers by counting splats on vehicle number plates. Data gathered from almost 2,000 journeys covering 64,545km (40,106 miles) indicates an average annual decline of 23% in Kent since the project began in 2021.
“You might expect that the sunny spring and hot summer in 2025 would give insect numbers a boost, however the Bugs Matter data suggest otherwise,” said Mr Whitehouse.
“Despite apparently favourable conditions for insects to thrive, we have recorded a fifth year of significant decline UK-wide.”
UK-Wide Trends Show Similar Reductions
The wider national survey paints a similarly concerning picture. Across the UK, insect splat rates have fallen by 59% between 2021 and 2025—equivalent to a 19% decline each year. Conservationists warn that these ongoing losses could have serious impacts on ecosystems, food production and wildlife that depend on insects.
How People Can Help Reverse the Decline
Buglife and the Kent Wildlife Trust say there are several practical steps individuals can take to support insect recovery, including:
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Choosing peat-free compost to reduce carbon emissions
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Cutting back on pesticide use or avoiding pesticides altogether
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Allowing grass to grow longer and planting wildflowers
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Reducing personal carbon emissions by buying locally-produced food and supporting local shops
The organisations behind the survey are urging more people to take part in next year’s count to help build an even clearer picture of insect population trends.
“These results are extremely concerning,” said Rosie Bleet of the Kent Wildlife Trust.
“This is a red flag for the state of nature in the UK that shouldn’t be ignored.”
She called on more people “to get stuck in next year and help track the numbers of these important creatures”.
It is vital to “keep gathering data like this over a long timescale and over large geographic areas… to better inform conservation policy and practice,” a spokesperson for the trust said.
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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.
