New Lenwade tropical house with 400 butterflies opens

A tropical house with 400 butterflies has opened in Norfolk.The Bug Parc in Lenwade, was recently expanded to house a variety of species and colours of butterflies in temperatures of 32C (89.6F).A recent survey by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme showed that 31 out of 59 species have had their numbers fall since 1976 when monitoring began.Martin French, owner of The Bug Parc, said: "Bees and butterflies are seriously in decline."
In 2009, Mr French built his very own 60ft (18m) shed in his back garden to house his growing collection of insects.A year later he bought five acres of land to create The Bug Parc.
The attraction already had 15 big zones with more than 200 minibeasts and a butterfly house.Mr French said the new tropical house, which took six months to build, was a "great addition".He explained temperatures would be kept in the low 30Cs so the "absolutely stunning" insects would not "keel over and die"."When you see some of these butterflies flying around with blues and the reds and oranges, they are not an English species they are stunning beautiful and all tropical," he added.
The lifespan of a butterfly is only seven to 14 days and each week Mr French told BBC Radio Norfolk, he brings in about 100 butterfly chrysalises to help maintain numbers.Although numbers fluctuate annually, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme said 2024 was the fifth-worst year for butterfly numbers across the country partly due to wet spring weather and a cool summer.Mr French said due to breeding efforts, butterfly parks were so important and he planned to expand even further to tackle bee and butterfly conservation."Bees and butterflies are seriously in decline and we are hoping to address that next year by the next thing we are going to build which is to help our bees and butterflies in the UK."
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

South Wales Argus

3 hours ago

• South Wales Argus

Newport school praised for high expectations by Estyn

St David's RC Primary School in Park Crescent was inspected by Estyn in March. The school, which is an English-medium, Roman Catholic primary school, has 212 pupils on its roll, with 184 of these being of statutory school age. Inspectors found that the headteacher, who was appointed in September 2017, sets "high expectations and leads by example." They also found that there is a "clear, inclusive vision shared by all stakeholders" and that leaders "promote a supportive, respectful community where pupils feel safe and valued." The inspection report said that most pupils "behave well," "are respectful and motivated," "feel safe and supported," and "attend regularly and on time." The report also said that pupils "actively take on leadership roles, helping to embed Welsh culture", such as Criw Cymraeg. Teaching at the school was described as "moving at a good pace" and using "effective strategies". The report said that the school promotes "core skills in reading, numeracy, digital use, and Welsh." However, inspectors found that there is "limited opportunity for pupils to influence how and what they learn, which impacts independent learning skills." The curriculum was described as "broad, engaging and well-resourced, aligned with the Curriculum for Wales." There is a "high emphasis on authentic learning experiences, local and global contexts, and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development." Inspectors found that the school's ALN (additional learning needs) provision is "strong" and that pupils "make good progress due to responsive support and targeted interventions." Staff "understand pupils' needs well and adapt provision accordingly." Support for low-income pupils is "effective." The report said that there is "strong progression" in reading, with most Year 6 pupils being "fluent and expressive readers." Writing is "effective across year groups, tailored to genre, lively and structured." Pupils are "confident" in mathematics and can apply their skills across the curriculum. Digital skills are "strong" across year groups, with pupils having a "solid understanding of online safety." Leaders have "well-defined roles and use robust monitoring cycles." Professional learning and collaboration are "well-developed." Governors "provide support and challenge," "engage in first-hand evidence gathering," and have a "clear understanding of school strengths and improvement impact." No concerns were raised about safeguarding or site management. Appropriate arrangements are in place for healthy eating and drinking, the use of pupil development grants, and financial management.

Powys County Times

20 hours ago

• Powys County Times

The Battle of Pilleth regaled upon 623rd anniversary

TODAY marks the anniversary of the Battle of Pilleth - one of the most pivotal battles in Welsh history. The battle, also known as the Battle of Bryn Glas, was waged between Knighton and Presteigne by forces loyal to Owain Glyndwr who led a rebellion against the English from 1400-1415. In 1402 the war reached Powys. The war broke out amid turmoil across England with King Richard II dying in prison in 1400 after being overthrown by Henry Bolingbroke who would be declared King Henry IV. An ally of the new king, Reginald Grey, baron of Ruthin, then sparked a Welsh rebellion when he seized lands owned by Glyndwr who was falsely accused of treason. The result was a 15 year war waged across Wales with Powys often centre stage. This almost brings us up to the legendary 1402 battle. In June, Glyndwr and his forces visited Knighton - close enough to the garrison town of Leominster and prompted a confrontation with forces loyal to Sir Edmund Mortimer. The Wigmore Chronicle says the battle site was 'upon the hill called Bryn Glas in Maelienydd near Knighton'. Glyndwr divided his army with his archers armed with the powerful longbow placed on the slopes of the hill while the remainder were concealed in a valley to the left of the hill. As the battle waged several Welsh archers in Mortimer's army defected and loosed arrows against their former comrades with several prominent nobles loyal to the new king falling in battle. Mortimer was captured and King Henry abandoned him to his fate which ironically led to the Marches noble renouncing his allegiance and married Glyndwr's daughter. Legend says the corpses of the fallen English soldiers were mutilated by women who had accompanied the Welsh solders as revenge for past invasions on Welsh soil. However, historians claim this could well have been propaganda as the English nobles sought to deflect the impact of defeat which saw more than 1,000 English soldiers killed. The English dead lay unburied and the stench caused the area to be avoided for months and war continued for another 13 years.

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Lavender thrives and 'will thank you' if you add 2 things to garden soil now

There's nothing worse than a sad-looking lavender bush, especially if you've planted it at the front of your flowerbed. But there are two things you can add to your soil that will help it thrive Lavender is a quintessential feature of many British gardens, its elegant foliage adding a touch of charm to flowerbeds and borders. It's not just a visual delight either; it serves as a natural pest deterrent, particularly for ants, whilst attracting vital pollinators to the ecosystem. However, a droopy lavender bush can be a real eyesore, especially if it's front and centre in your flowerbed. ‌ Despite being relatively easy to maintain, lavender does require certain care to ensure a healthy and abundant bloom. As a Mediterranean plant that flourishes in sunlight, it doesn't need much watering but does require well-draining soil for optimal growth. ‌ Interestingly, lavender is drought-resistant, and overwatering can lead to root rot if the soil isn't suitable, reports the Express. If you find your lavender looking a bit sparse despite using well-draining soil, horticulturist @ has revealed two additions to your soil that could help your lavender prosper. In a TikTok video, the gardening guru explained that the "two main lavenders you'll come across are English and French lavender". He noted that while English lavender is "a little bit more hardy", French lavender typically "flowers for longer". Despite their differences, it's essential to ensure "free-draining soil is absolutely crucial" for both types of lavender. Free or well-draining soil is defined as soil that allows water to flow through swiftly, creating the arid conditions that lavender thrives in. ‌ Sandy soils are often chosen for plants needing excellent drainage, but Ish also suggests incorporating two additional elements into your soil to make lavender "absolutely thrive". To enhance soil quality and its draining capability, grit and sand can be mixed into the earth. While these additions aid in drainage, it's vital not to overwater. Ish advises keeping lavender in "lightly moist soil", cautioning that many gardeners lose their lavender "because they overwater it or water it daily like most of their plants, and it causes root rot". Neglecting to trim your lavender during the summer may lead to a woody and thin appearance, but subpar soil and excessive watering can "cause black foliage and make it go gooey at the top". Instead, "your lavender will thank you" if you water it sparingly, or even rely on rainfall, ensuring it has time to dry out thoroughly afterwards.