The Last (Concrete) Post

The EA Team by the Taylor Swift butterfly

New Ferry Butterfly Park was fortunate to have a corporate workday visit by EA Technology. The company's mission is to promote the development of resilient, accessible, low-cost energy networks globally, accelerating the transition to energy decarbonisation. The team came from the marketing department based at Capenhurst Technology Park, our contact came via Richard Ash who works more in the technical and data analysis section of the company.

The team of ten arrived on an inclement day but dodged the heavy showers and got stuck into the tasks. Hilary Ash led lighter jobs such as plug planting marginal plants around the recently restored pond, including some ladies’ smock to boost the orange tip butterfly populations at the park. This group also collected apples, built a bug house and bagged up wood chippings.

Planting pondside marginals

Steve Yandell led a group who laid down stone aggregate and topped it off with sand, this was in areas were the water was pooling on the paths, making it safe for all. After completing this task they tackled a substantial amount of encroaching bramble on the upper level of the park. One volunteer removed old painted paving stones and filled in the resulting holes. He also smoothed out the area behind the pond dipping platform, levelled the area under the water butt taps for easier filling of watering cans and scythed half the acid grassland within the gates.

Howard, Peter and Brian lead another group on the compost bin reconstruction. This involved taking out the concrete bases holding the wooden uprights of the old compost bins which had stood there for two decades. Then they installed eight upright concrete posts separated by gravel boards. Digging the holes was quite a job as levels had to be checked and angles square, whilst pouring in the postcrete to set the posts in position. They were determined to get the job done so, after Hilary Ash’s post-lunch tour of the park, the compost bin team were eager to get back to the job and worked furiously up against the clock until 4pm to get the job completed and the last post in.

Breaking up the concrete bases of the old compost bins

Removing the old concrete

Thanks to the EA marketing team for all their help, they gave us a real boost and got many projects we never get round to completed. We cannot wait until our next event to start filling these compost bins! We hope the team enjoyed the variety of challenges the park provided them with. Thanks also to our team of eight in-house volunteers who brought this day to fruition.

Getting the angles of the posts square

The last post is completed!

Paul Loughnane

New Ferry Butterfly Park Reserve Manager

North West in Bloom Awards for Butterfly Park

The RHS run many schemes to encourage and acknowledge gardening in the widest sense. Wirral is in the area known as North West in Bloom (NWIB).

Last year Phil Putwain, chairman of New Ferry Butterfly Park, broached the idea of applying for an award as it is open to small, volunteer led community groups.

An initial visit from an RHS judge was made in January and we were encouraged to submit an application. This involved creating a portfolio with information about the three areas that would be assessed: community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.

Common blue butterfly at New Ferry Butterfly Park.
Photo: Roy Lowry

New Ferry Butterfly Park has always been run by volunteers and been involved with the local community. The initial idea came from Mel Roberts who lived in a house overlooking the site. Over a thousand people came to our Opening Day in May, we took 450 people on guided visits and had 1050 visitors on Sunday afternoons this year. In total we have counted 34,890 visitors in the last 21 years.

About 50 volunteers are actively involved in practical management, wardening and hosting groups. Volunteers also do outreach events to publicise the Butterfly Park, going to schools and other organised events and giving talks.

Environmental responsibility is a keystone of our nature reserve and, as well as maintaining varied habitats within the site, the plants and insects are well and regularly recorded. Butterfly transects are carried out to give a reliable record of species found and changes over time. Monthly photography of the site and wildlife provide a valuable record.

Mel's Garden - a demonstration garden growing pollinator plants

Gardening achievement has been interpreted based on our identity as a nature reserve. We have Mel’s Garden, our demonstration garden growing pollinator plants, and similar plants are sold on Sunday afternoons.

In July, Jason Lambert, an RHS Judge, came on a visit. Volunteers from different areas explained what they did and we gave him a comprehensive tour of the Butterfly Park. He admitted to being very impressed by what he saw and told us that assessment of entries would take place in July and August. We wouldn’t know the outcome of this until the Awards Ceremony in October.

On October 30th three volunteers set off to the venue at Bolton Wanderers FC stadium to await the results.

There are 5 levels of award, one to five. Imagine our delight when, on our first time of entering, the Butterfly Park won a Level 5 - Outstanding award.  However, that wasn’t all. We were presented with a certificate and trophy as winner of the NWIB Gardening for Wildlife (Biodiversity) award. What an accolade for New Ferry Butterfly Park!

New Ferry Butterfly Park's Outstanding award!

Our certificate for the NWIB Gardening for Wildlife (Biodiversity) award

The NWIB Gardening for Wildlife (Biodiversity) trophy

All our volunteers deserve the greatest congratulations for their continued support of the Butterfly Park. The awards are testament to everyone's dedication. 

What a great end to this year's opening season!

Linda Higginbottom
Volunteer Co-ordinator