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Butterfly art made by school kids displayed at Cambridge museum
Image source, PA
A group of school pupils have been spreading their wings in the art world by exhibiting their very own climate-inspired works at a museum.
As part of a project led by artist Hilary Cox Condron, the 11 to 16 year-olds crafted paper butterflies after learning about how the creatures are important to the environment.
The butterflies are now on display at Cambridge University's Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, alongside cardboard protest banners also made by the students.
The students and staff say they hope their artworks can spark conversations and raise awareness about climate change.
Image source, PA
The project began with a series of after-school workshops last year, where pupils taking part worked together to understand more about the history of climate change.
They learnt that butterflies about the challenges butterflies have been facing, with scientists saying that human activity, including habitat destruction and climate change, has led to a decrease in their numbers.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, says that healthy numbers of butterflies are linked to signs that the natural world is healthy too.
Dr Fox says: "It's never been more important to understand how our insects are responding to the changing climate, and take action to protect them, so that they can keep informing us of the wider health of the environment."
What's happening to butterflies in the UK?
Every year there's a natural change in butterfly numbers.
For some species, like the small tortoiseshell, there's less of them than ever before. Others, like the large blue, are at record highs.
But Butterfly Conservation say that there are long term changes downward.
Image source, PA
The organisation's youth engagement officer, Emma Dakin, says that creating natural spaces, such as letting grass grow long, can help butterflies find a home.
This year, the Big Butterfly Count will run from 12 July to 4 August, which is a chance for any person of any age to record the number of butterflies they see to help scientists understand what's happening to the creatures.