Butterflies and Blooms Bring Summer To Life At Laverstock

An inspired suggestion at a residents’ meeting led to the launch of special project and an event to celebrate the emergence of Laverstock’s very own flutter of butterflies.

Butterfly Project Part of Supporting the Environment

The Wellbeing team at Laverstock Care Centre holds regular meetings with residents who are encouraged to give feedback on activities they’ve taken part in, as well as offering new ideas. A recent suggestion to support the local butterfly population by hatching some of their own was met with great enthusiasm so Wellbeing Lead, Barry, was assigned the task of sourcing a butterfly kit – including live caterpillars!

Marty, Laverstock’s Site Maintenance Officer, was also keen to become involved in the butterfly project. As one of the home’s Green Champions, Marty works tirelessly to make the outside space bright and beautiful and is always looking to introduce simple, effective ideas to support the environment – like bringing in water butts and replacing some of the hedges with flowers to attract bees which, like butterflies, are essential pollinators.

Caterpillars Arrive and a Garden Party is Planned

The caterpillars arrived, each snug and visible in their own little house, complete with a supply of food. They were tucked away in a cool corner and left to eat, spin and grow. The team and residents kept a careful eye on their progress and were amazed to see how large they’d become after around 10 days when they had finally hardened into chrysalides. At this point, the chrysalides were moved into their special butterfly environment – a tall, round mesh container where they would develop further and emerge as butterflies.

The wonderful thing about the butterfly house was how visible every stage was. Residents became fascinated, wondering when the magic would happen! Meanwhile, a ‘Butterflies and Blooms’ Garden Party was arranged so that the local community, family and friends could join residents in the garden to celebrate the release of the hatched butterflies. The Wellbeing team helped residents make butterfly brooches in advance of the party, and on the morning of the event, they baked butterfly brownies which were a popular addition to the refreshments.

Sunshine, Strawberries and Butterfly-inspired Action

As it turned out, nature refused to be rushed and the butterflies remained stubbornly unhatched on the day of the garden party! Nevertheless, everyone had a wonderful time checking out the chrysalides and enjoying a delicious afternoon tea complete with strawberries, scones served with cream and jam, and glasses of Pimm’s.

Marty had placed some pretty ornamental butterflies in amongst the blooms as a surprise for the residents on the day, which brought a lot of pleasure. There was also a flower arranging session with Jodie and a garden-themed quiz, which visiting children particularly enjoyed. Guests also learned about British butterflies during a short talk hosted by Barry. All in all, it was a relaxed and sociable afternoon in the sunshine where butterflies were at the centre of the conversation, if not in attendance.

Hatched Butterflies Inspire Participation in the Big Count

Of course, the butterflies finally hatched and the residents were enthralled as they fluttered around in their mesh house, before being released. Inspired by the success of their project, the team has signed up for this year’s Big Butterfly Count - the world’s largest public butterfly survey, run by the charity Butterfly Conservation. For 15 minutes each day, residents will take part in identifying butterflies that visit a particular part of their garden and the record of counts will then be submitted – all part of helping scientists monitor the health of our environment.

And who knows, residents may be counting some of the newly hatched Laverstock butterflies as they enjoy their new habitat!

A Place to Call Home at Laverstock Care Centre in Salisbury

If you're looking for a care home in Salisbury that feels like home from the moment you walk in, Laverstock Care Centre could be just what you’re seeking. Homely furnished and full of natural light, our care home offers residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care all under one roof. With comfortable lounges and an on-site hair salon, your loved one can relax and feel their best every day.

From the very first visit, families find peace of mind knowing we offer a true home for life, where additional dementia or nursing support can be seamlessly provided when needed.

Call us on 01723 333 392 to book your personal visit.