LOCAL: Blenheim Palace Butterfly House transformed for 2023 and the Big Butterfly Count
Blenheim Palace is encouraging visitors to spend some time in its stunning Butterfly House, which has undergone a huge transformation over the last six months with newly installed smart technology and improved environment for its inhabitants.
In addition, new plants and different fruits are being trialled to potentially provide the butterflies with everything they need to thrive and live a longer life.
From Africa, Madeira and South America each plant was meticulously chosen and planted by newly appointed Head Gardener, Andy Mills, who worked closely with Chris Horne, Senior Gardener who has looked after the Butterfly House for over 10 years.
This year, Blenheim Palace has partnered with Butterfly Conservation in support of their annual Big Butterfly Count, which takes place between 14th July and 6th August. Each year, Butterfly Conservation invites amateur spotters to download their butterfly ID chart, go outside and see how many of the stunning winged creatures they can see in their own garden. The initiative aims to assess the health of the environment by simply counting the amount of butterflies spotted over the summer period.
Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation explains: “We’re delighted to partner with Blenheim Palace as part of this year’s Big Butterfly Count. The data collected during this year’s Count will help to give us a valuable insight into what the effect of the last year’s extreme weather has been, particularly as butterflies and moths are key indicators of the health of our wider ecosystems. With climate change here to stay, we need people to take part more than ever before and we look forward to seeing how many different butterflies are spotted by Blenheim Palace visitors.”
Chris Horne, Senior Gardener, has looked after the Butterfly House for 10 years. He commented: “What better way to start your count than walking through the Butterfly House or the surrounding grasslands in the Walled Garden. The lawns in this area have been allowed to grow unchecked to support the entire cycle of a butterfly’s life.”
To book tickets for Blenheim Palace and Gardens, including The Butterfly House, visit https://shorturl.at/afwBX
