A Natural Future for Bees and Butterflies

Planting below the laid hedge. Photograph Richard Ash

A £280 grant from Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s  Project “Natural Futures” has enabled New Ferry Butterfly Park volunteers to plant 400 wildflower plugs to enhance the park’s hedge banks, pond verges and grasslands. The event attracted 25 volunteers in all, including our regular volunteers, Students from Liverpool John Moores University Conservation Society and 10 members of the public. 

A boundary hedge at the park was laid in the winter to renew the hedge growth from the base of the hedge. The hedge laying exposed the partially shaded hedge bank and revealed a rather boring ground flora. This has been remedied by the planting of 150 woodland wildflower plugs into the bank. The mix consisted of betony, common dog violet, primrose, greater stitchwort and wild strawberry. This will make the hedge bank more attractive and supply further nectar and pollen sources for bees and butterflies at the park. In a few years it will show-case what an attractive hedge bank can look like.

Planting around the pond. Photograph Richard Ash

Fifty ragged robin and fifty purple loosestrife plug plants were planted around the pond dipping pond which was restored last summer.

Also 150 common sorrel were planted into Charlie’s Field, at the south end of the park. Charlie’s Field has recently been be reclaimed from invasive suckering plum and a mowing regime started. Last year a pleasant surprise was that over 40 Cowslips have naturally colonised the area following the start of the mowing regime. Common sorrel is the larval food plant of the small copper butterfly. The small copper butterfly although a widely distributed butterfly, is declining in abundance; nationally a staggering 37% between 1976 -2014*. Here at the park we are doing our part to reverse that trend.

Planting in Charlie's Field. Photograph: Richard Ash

Ella Woodcock, Volunteer Coordinator from Liverpool John Moores University Conservation Society said “We were delighted to help at this community project and learn a little about butterfly ecology.  We were well looked after, we had homemade butterfly themed cakes, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We will be coming back.” She added enthusiastically “Whilst we were weeding some purging buckthorn shrubs for the brimstone butterfly, a brimstone butterfly flew around these shrubs. It was great to see conservation in action.”

Beth Alvey, Natural Futures Volunteering and Training Manager, Cheshire Wildlife Trust said” It was great to see the connections between the volunteers, students and local residents.  If any other wildlife volunteering groups would like some assistance in building volunteering capacity, grants and training please contact Beth Alvey at Cheshire Wildlife Trust”.

Paul Loughnane, Honorary Reserve Manager, New Ferry Butterfly Park added “These projects are all in preparation for the Park’s open season which begins on Sunday 30th April with a big open day event with environmental themed stalls. It starts at 11 a.m. with Alison McGovern MP being the guest of honour and unveiling a new piece of artwork inspired by a poem ‘Life is like a butterfly’ by Joseph T. Renaldi 

* Small copper data from Butterfly Conservation