March has seen the two official launches of Butterfly World at the Royal Society in London and Sopwell House in St Albans attended by key notables in the conservation world; Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy, The Countess of Verulam, Clive Farrell, award winning Lepidopterist and Founder of the project, and many more supporters plus representatives of Jacksons Fencing, who are amongst six sponsors, who have recognised the importance of the project.
This high profile conservation project is set to be a £25 million world-class visitor attraction that is being built at Chiswell Green near St Albans. The 26 acre site has been picked specifically with its’ accessibility in mind as it is situated within easy reach of major transport links, the M1 and M25.
The butterfly experience is estimated to attract 800,000 visitors per year. This initial figure is a conservative estimate that could potentially reach one million visitors as awareness grows.
The world’s ultimate walk-through experience featuring 10,000 indigenous and tropical species of butterflies and other creatures in a 100m transparent dome is not only about attracting tourists, it’s aim is to highlight the plight of our indigenous butterfly and moth population. Their drastic decline over the last few years is seen as an indicative of our inability at present to fight to conserve our precious environment.
The low-grade agricultural land will be transformed into a sustainable and bio-diverse site in the shape of a butterfly with the dome as its eye. This is based on a design by Ivan Hicks, notable landscape designer. A wild flower meadow will be created helping to protect our native species of butterflies, moths and flora and fauna.
Within the first few years of Butterfly World being fully operational in Spring 2011, it is expected to directly invest over £1m in community, charity and scientific research projects in the area. The project will also be the home for Future Gardens, a yearly showcase promoting contemporary and sustainable garden design.
“We are delighted to be involved as a sponsor of Butterfly World right from these early stages. It’s a hugely important project from an ecological viewpoint, and something Jacksons as a company takes very seriously.” Louise Tomlin of Jacksons Fencing explained. “We are providing perimeter fencing to ensure the site is secure and we are very pleased to be sponsoring the Ivan Hicks Leaf Gardens with our Jakoustic acoustic barriers. I walked the 26-acre site with Clive Farrell back in October, and I think the acoustic properties of our product caught his imagination; the Leaf Gardens are planned to be self-contained, calm and quiet experiences where the visitor becomes miniaturised, as if they are the size of an insect crawling through giant sized flowerpots. The acoustic fencing will certainly help create a retreat from the hubbub of visitors outside these gardens. We are all very excited by the whole idea and can’t wait for it to come to fruition.”
For more information:
www.butterfly-world.org
www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk or 01233 750393 for further information on Jacksons products.
Photographs of London Launch thanks to Edward Parker, Images Everything Ltd. 01931 712312 edward.parker@btinternet.com
Photographs of St Albans Launch thanks to Mike Otley, Screaming Talent Ltd.
07971 229704 mike@screamingtalent.com
Model of the completed 26 acre, Butterfly World site
Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy, Clive Farrell and Prof. Jeremy Thomas at the London launch
David Bellamy and Louise Tomlin of Jacksons enjoy the gardens at Sopwell House
