2025 is the 30th anniversary of New Ferry Butterfly Park. Over the next 5 months we will look back at the five years since our 25th anniversary. In January we began with what happened in 2020. Now to 2021...
In January of 2021, one hazel bush was already in flower.
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| Hazel catkins in flower at the Butterfly Park in January 2021 |
Guelder rose berries were still on the bush, a sign that the migratory thrushes like redwing had not found them yet.
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| Lots of berries on the Guelder Rose bush |
A fox was spotted taking a stroll.
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The pond froze over - we had not seen that many times in
recent years.
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| The icy pond in winter 2021 |
In May we started opening on Sunday afternoons but didn’t have our usual Open Day as some Covid restrictions were still in place.
By July it was now 18 months since New Ferry Butterfly Park’s Silver Jubilee Gates design was drawn up. Due to Covid the gate costs had risen and the Park’s income had fallen. However with support from several funding sources - New Ferry and Port Sunlight Community Fund, Wirral Wildlife, The Duchy of Lancaster, Wirral Farmers’ Market Community Fund, Poulton Hall Walled Garden Trust and the recent online public Crowdfunder appeal - the money was finally raised. The first physical steps in realising this project started with the post’s foundations being dug out and strengthened and a start made on the brick pillars.
Once the brick pillars were constructed they were left for five weeks to allow the pillars to set. Whilst this happens, the final measurements were taken to make sure the bespoke gates will fit perfectly.
The Treasurer’s role started on small scale, but developed into a much more involved role reflecting the considerable development and increased activities taking place at the park. It is busy job in the summer, sorting out weekly collections put in the donation tin and distinguishing between donations: general, wood chip, soil improver or group visits. These are accurately and clearly presented in the annual accounts. The accounts give the committee a clear picture of the financial resources and how each income stream has contributed over the year. Howard’s accounts were used to demonstrate the park is a business - we sell wood chip. This was an important point raised in court in 2009 when protecting the park’s business tenancy. Howard became an expert in VAT and claimed 20% refund on our disabled accessible composting toilet via Cheshire Wildlife Trust. This refund helped with funding the surround ground works required.
Following that year’s al fresco AGM at the Park, Howard was presented with a caricature of himself painted by Carol Ramsay. This was beautifully framed, using recycled wood, by Pam Sullivan, who created our Welcome Board. The smile on Howard’s face as he opened the portrait said it all. With such a lovely, personal and fun portrait like that the committee will all want to retire!
Since then Howard has been busy in the Park with many of his other roles such as mowing the grass, fixing and painting the site furniture and offering valued advice.
By November the brick pillars for the Jubilee Gates had been raised, filled with concrete and left to set for five weeks. The new Silver Jubilee Gates could then be installed.
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| A finished gate pillar |
In August, Howard Gibson retired as Honorary Treasurer
of New Ferry Butterfly Park, after 22 years of dedicated service. We were
immensely grateful to Howard for so many years of sterling work, when we could
always rely on the Park’s accounts being accurate, up to date, and
professionally presented in apple-pie order. When someone like this retires,
particularly after such a long period of service, you suddenly realise how
important a Treasurer is. It is the only position that any organisation must
have. Organisations can cope without a Secretary or a Chair but not without a
Treasurer. Howard was a recently retired HSBC (Midland) bank branch manager
when in 1998 he was recruited by Mel Roberts, the visionary founder of the
park, taking over from our first treasurer Vi Otter.
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| Howard Gibson, who retired as Butterfly Park Treasurer in 2021 |
The Treasurer’s role started on small scale, but developed into a much more involved role reflecting the considerable development and increased activities taking place at the park. It is busy job in the summer, sorting out weekly collections put in the donation tin and distinguishing between donations: general, wood chip, soil improver or group visits. These are accurately and clearly presented in the annual accounts. The accounts give the committee a clear picture of the financial resources and how each income stream has contributed over the year. Howard’s accounts were used to demonstrate the park is a business - we sell wood chip. This was an important point raised in court in 2009 when protecting the park’s business tenancy. Howard became an expert in VAT and claimed 20% refund on our disabled accessible composting toilet via Cheshire Wildlife Trust. This refund helped with funding the surround ground works required.
Following that year’s al fresco AGM at the Park, Howard was presented with a caricature of himself painted by Carol Ramsay. This was beautifully framed, using recycled wood, by Pam Sullivan, who created our Welcome Board. The smile on Howard’s face as he opened the portrait said it all. With such a lovely, personal and fun portrait like that the committee will all want to retire!
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| The framed caricature of Howard! |
Since then Howard has been busy in the Park with many of his other roles such as mowing the grass, fixing and painting the site furniture and offering valued advice.
By November the brick pillars for the Jubilee Gates had been raised, filled with concrete and left to set for five weeks. The new Silver Jubilee Gates could then be installed.
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| Delivery of the gates to the entrance of the park |
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| The finished gates |
The end of 2021 saw relaxation of many restrictions imposed
to combat Covid19 and we looked ahead to a more ‘normal’ year for our visitors.
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