The Big Butterfly Release

We were fascinated watching our caterpillars grow and grow and eventually make the most intricate chrysalides. Everyday, children would gather around the Butterfly nursery to notice differences. "Look, he's climbing all the way to the top!"

Then one Friday afternoon, the joy and excitement spilled over when the children noticed wriggling from one of the chrysalides. Sarah kept the nursery on her desk and the eagerly awaiting children were regular visitors to see if there was any happy news. Over the course of the weekend, our butterflies had emerged and were ready to greet the children on Monday morning.

We looked after the butterflies feeding them fruit and sugar water. Then we waited for one beautiful sunny morning to release them into our garden.

The whole nursery attended and it was such a wonderful event to wave them off and wish them well into the world.

As we face the reality that we have lost up to 80% of butterflies in the UK since the 1970s, (Big Butterfly Report 2022), we found out what we can do to help. We have planted many native wild flowers that are rich in nectar for our colourful friends. We keep log stacks, use peat free compost and move caterpillars off our vegetable patch to a bug hotel that has cucumber offered to them as an alternative. Read here to find out more.... https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/gardening/gardening-for-butterflies