Butterfly Park Open Day

This year's Open Day at New Ferry Butterfly Park takes place on Sunday 4th May, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside will unveil a new award for the Park, and then there will be lots of children’s activities, BBQ, plant sale, cake stall, craft stalls – and even make your own “smoothie” using Sustrans bike-powered blender!

Free entry.

Come by train or bus (to Bebington Station) or park in surrounding roads.

Disabled parking only within the Park on this occasion.

Map of location.

Spring Planters, Spring Feeders

New Ferry Butterfly Park has been spruced up further by a Love Wirral Grant which has enabled the planting of a holly hedge along our boundary to benefit the holly blue butterfly and to screen urban fencing. Also, 150 primroses, 50 stitchwort and 50 red campion were planted in between bluebells established last November. This en masse planting contributes considerably to the spring nectar sources available to butterflies coming out of hibernation. Thanks to all the volunteers who did this extra planting on top of the preparation for the Open Day and the visit of the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside on Sunday 4th May.

During one workday this spring more than 50 butterflies were recorded at the park including three unmistakeable brightly coloured male brimstone butterflies. This was a delight. They are more regularly seen at the park now, although there is no evidence yet that they are breeding. We eagerly look forward to the month of May when buckthorns can be examined for evidence of brimstone butterfly caterpillars.  Next year when the primroses are truly established it is hoped that the brimstone butterflies will be able to enjoy the primrose flowers as they have a sufficiently  long tongue (16mm) to easily reach down the 10mm flower tube to reach the primrose’s nectar.

Brimstone butterfly. Photo: Wikipedia

April's talk

Common Blue butterflies. Photo: Wikipedia

Friday 11th April

‘Butterflies of the Peak District’

Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall. 7.30 p.m.

An illustrated talk by Tony Pioli.

Admission £3. All welcome.