"Bring Back the Butterflies

Conclusions

Besides the four features in your wildlife-friendly butterfly conservation garden, there are several other ways to attract wildlife. Bird feeders for instance. Try to get those that are caged to deter your local squirrel. Clean the feeders regularly and make sure that they are well stocked with seed. Once you have put up a bird feeder, as with the garden, it is like making a covenant with nature. They must be faithfully maintained. If any one in your group has any carpentry ability, then try making some bird and bat boxes. There are several other species of our native wildlife that have, due to ever-increasing human needs, become endangered.

What can I do as an individual?

Apart from creating a wildlife-friendly butterfly conservation garden as described on this website, there are several organisations that you can join. If you have a particular species that you are especially concerned about, (other then butterflies of course), please use the 'Search' facility on your computer. These organisations also have field trips where you can meet like-minded enthusiasts.

Costing

How much your project will cost depends on the size of the area to be gardened and the availability of man/woman power. Digging the pond out by hand will be cheap but labour intensive. A mechanical digger with an operator can be hired for about two hundred and fifty pounds a day. This could also be used to remove the top soil in preparation for the cultivated bed and the hedgerow.

Be careful here, try not to damage the roots of any extant shrubs or trees. As already stated, 'whips' are cheaper than plants with root-balls. Measure out the length and breadth of the area where you intend growing your hedge. Put in stakes three feet (one metre) apart in rows then count the stakes. Multiply this number with the cost of the individual 'whips' or root-balled plants and you should have the cost of your hedge. This method also applies to the planting up of the cultivated area. Mark out the spacing between each species of plant or flower, count the stakes then multiply this with the price of the individual plant or flower. Use some kind of colour coding, or numbering, to differentiate between the species. The turf cutter, for the preparation of the wildflower meadow, can be hired for about one hundred pounds a day. Any one reasonably fit should be able to operate this piece of machinery. But the turf will have to be lifted and taken to the site where it will be stacked. This means that you will need volunteers, (themselves a rare species). You'll have to buy tools; garden forks and spades, shovels, wheelbarrows et al. Get the best your budget can afford. Secateurs especially should be of a good quality in able to give a clean cut when pruning. You will then be able to hand them down to the next generation of wildlife conservationists that you have encouraged by your example.

Funding

Even during the present economic downturn, there is funding out there. It's just a question of finding it. My advice is to begin with Heritage Lottery Funds "Awards for All". Your group must already have been established with a committee that has regular meetings with a chairman, secretary and treasurer. You must also have a constitution and a bank account with at least two signatories. When you come to fill the application form, take your time and answer all the questions. Do not emphasise the fact that your wildlife-friendly butterfly conservation is, primarily, for the benefit of wildlife. You have to convince them of the benefits your garden will be for people.

Remember that it takes time to create a garden and years for it to mature. It will also need constant attention. Apart from that, there's nothing to it.

Phase II

The Camden Butterfly Conservation Society

Since the publication of this website in September 2009, our butterfly population has suffered a serious decline.

To try and halt, if not reverse, this situation, I have formed the Camden Butterfly Conservation Society. Experience has shown that it wasn’t enough just to encourage others to create the ‘wildlife-friendly butterfly conservation gardens’ as described on this website; a more dynamic approach is required.

To this end, the CBCS will become more actively involved. We will help with the funding by applying to the National Lottery; we will assist the planning and organising of the sites; hire local gardeners to do the ground preparation and help choose and order the various plants.

There is no fee to become a member of the Camden Butterfly Conservation Society. If you would like to help bring back our butterflies, please send me an email and you’ll be added to the list.

Thanking you in anticipation of a positive response. James Leigh.