May 4th Visit to Butterfly World

I took the scenic route to Chiswell Green and Butterfly World, and because along this route missed a turning, it meant that I literally came in behind my daughter and son-in-law as they entered the Car Park. They had come from Westcott near Aylesbury and I from Caddington; different distances and different set off times!

I was able to simply lock up the car and grab my camera, they had to consider provisions, assembling a double buggy, and attending a toddler and a a baby, so their organisation took just a tad longer. Up till that time the weather had been alternately bright and showery with a light breeze, and Chiswell Green had had its shower. Once we were within the complex of Butterfly World, the breeze picked up, and our heading took us to the boudary beyond the giant ant, and it was a brutal wind that greeted us as we sat down to do some feeding; the low mound beyond the hut no defence against the cold onslaught of the wind, but being hardy, we persevered, then made our way towards the Tropical Butterfly greenhouse.

Inside, Joshua was upset by the butterflies flying past his head and decided it was not for him, but a few minutes later all was well, and he came back in. This was a period when I did a bit more concentrating on trying to photograph the butterflies than grandparental duties, but I returned to those once we were back in the open and visiting some of the various gardens. Here Joshua has to be watched a little more closely as he has a great affinity for water as he does thoroughly enjoy swimming, he has yet to understand that ornamental ponds are not in the same category.

We made our way slalom style through these gardens, but they have yet to reach full splendour as it is so early in the season, and every so often we would see staff planting out. We walked around as two groups for a while, as Tim and Joshua toured where the giant chalk butterfly is carved, and Joshua found the pipe openings where you could shout or sing and listen to the echoes, this was a very new experience! Meanwhile I took shots of the wall that has household bric-a-brac embedded, I found the dilapidated books particularly fascinating. Lizzy and I also found somewhere to take some shots of Tilly. We all met up again and walked round the entire lake before returning to the Beehive Loos and a stop for tea in the shade of the outdoor restaurant area, where I managed to get some more colourful flower shots.

Before long we realised it was fast approaching closing time, so we headed for the turnstile exit and the car park, where we said our goodbyes – Lizzy, Tim and the children to Barnet and myself off to Caddington. This gallery is a record of the generality of the visit.

Butterfly World

It was a small group visiting the Stockwood Discovery Centre Luton from Essex that said I should visit Butterfly World at Chiswell Green, near St. Albans. They had said: "You must see the wild flowers!" I turned into the drive from a country lane and was gobsmacked! Before you have even arrived at the entrance to the complex, the drive is lined not with grassy banks, but banks of every colour of wild flower – reds, pinks, purples, blue, green, yellow and orange – all set against the clearest of blue skies and high cumulus clouds. Since there was not a lot of traffic, I put on the hazards, and spent at least five minutes just taking shots of what was there!

The complex is still young and not yet finished, but it was welcoming, well-organised and the architecture stunning. It seemed quiet and people free at first as I looked out at the giant beehives that are the loos, the alfresco restaurant area, the garden centre with its arched roof, the gardens with giant plant pots and a trowel. Before I left the entrance area, I had taken a few closeups of a caterpillar one of the staff had been tending in a small container of I believe willow leaves.

I headed for the Tropical Butterfly house, and all changed – I was prepared for the heat and humidity; I was totally unprepared for the hubbub! The greenhouse was full to capacity with screaming and shouting schoolchildren amidst fluttering dozens of butterflies. I assume butterflies are deaf, or have a high tolerance for noise! I concentrated on trying to capture the main attraction, and if possible butterflies in flight – in the end I caught just one mid-flight! After a while as I moved up the greenhouse, I noted that a few more patient youngsters were standing still in the hope of a butterfly settling on their hands or heads, one boy in particular had several settle for a short time on his hat, and a girl, maybe his sister insistent I capture the event, but every time I turned to capture a shot, the insect took off; to his dismay. I tried at least three times and felt really sorry that he was unlucky, finally I managed, and showed him the closeup on the back of the camera. He was amongst a small band of hopefuls that did stay in one spot and was quiet.

I stayed awhile with sweat dripping off me, trying to get shots of some of the larger specimens, but they were less inclined to remain in flight. When I finally came out, the cool fresh air was a delight and after turning around to capture the drying breeze all around, I strolled around the various garden, some of which were complete, many still under construction or simply not yet fully grown. I wandered through terracotta tunnels and on the other side of an upturned giant pot came across a similarly scaled box of matches. The walls were adorned with embedded dinky toys and other artefacts of a consumerist society, such as a headless Action Man, but also there was an old book with an open spread beneath a bank of wild flowers and the clear sky.

There is much to see here, and it deserves success, but the best of the wild flower display will not last long – I am glad I came when I did, and I will return as there is just so much to see, and photograph.