Mayor in a Spin

Nearly 600 hundred guests enjoyed the Open Day at New Ferry Butterfly Park which marked the opening of the season to the public. The event was presided over by the Mayor of Wirral Councillor Steve Foulkes. He unveiled a new feature at the park, an “eco loo”, and took it in good spirit with lots of good old jokes, which lifted the crowd and drew out many a laugh, setting a fun tone to the start of the day.

The eco loo was sponsored by a grant from the South Wirral constituency Your Wirral Fund from Wirral Council. This will be a big boost to volunteers, park warden and guests at the park and the liquid gold collected will come in useful as a compost activator for the cut vegetation gathered when scything the meadows here. The finished compost is given away to local allotment societies.

592 visitors is the highest turnout of guests so far for an Open Day and eight species of butterflies were on the wing, another record for an Open Day. Our newest resident species the brimstone butterflies stealing the show, with the bright yellow males darting up and down the hedgerows and some of the paler females spotted laying eggs.

The Mayor went to every stall there except the spider stall! He got into a spin making a healthy fruit smoothie with a pedal powered blender brought by Sustrans.

The Park is open every Sunday from 12 - 4 p.m. until 13th September. There are trails to follow and environmental games to play. So, if you want explore wildlife on your doorstep, do come along. There are knowledgeable volunteer wardens to guide you and what is more it is free.

Paul Loughnane, Honorary Reserve Manager