Garden Open Day nets £80 for Butterfly Conservation

Dorset Branch members Lyn and Chris Pullen opened their wildlife garden to the public this summer in aid of Butterfly Conservation and raised over £80 towards the conservation of butterflies and moths.

Although the weather was not particularly good on the day, thirty people turned up to tour the garden, which is managed organically and in a wildlife-friendly manner. Visitors were able to admire the herbaceous beds filled with nectar plants for butterflies, including buddleia, verbena bonariensis, single-flowered French marigolds, phlox, sedum and michaelmas daisies, as well as the wildlife pond which serves as a breeding ground for newts and emperor dragonflies. A small summer meadow area showed how leaving some grass long will provide a good area for butterflies to breed, and areas of mature ivy were highlighted as excellent for late nectar for all sorts of insects as well as a good hibernation and nesting site for many species of insect and bird. Even the vegetable beds were included, with runner beans provided flowers used by the Brimstone butterfly, and compost heaps not only recycling the goodness from the garden but also serving as a home for slow worms and bank voles.

Cobblers Cottage will be open again in 2003 - watch this site for details.