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Q. I would like to release butterflies at
my wedding but the only sites I can find are in the US. Can this
be done in the UK?
A1. There is currently quite
a lot of controversy about this idea in the UK as there are many
sad stories of hundreds of butterflies dying in transit so if
anybody is thinking about doing this then make sure you check
out the quality and ‘animal-friendliness’ of any supplier
first! We have had this enquiry in the past but clients decided
not to go ahead with it.
Apparently www.holidaybutterflies.com do releases
in the UK. Their site is not working properly at the moment but
it might be worth keeping trying.
The following site gives loads of info about butterfly
releases and suggests contacting butterfly breeding farms to see
if they would consider doing it…
http://www.butterflyreleaseinfo.com/Butterfly-Release-At-Wedding.html
(Answered by
Clare Coleman)
A2. What a fabulous idea!
I don't have any definite contacts, but you might like to try
Worldwide Butterflies at: www.wwb.co.uk, or on 01935 429937. Whilst
they might not be able to help directly, they may know a breeder
who might be able to help. Similarly, you might like to try your
local butterfly farm (try theYellow Pages) or even the London
Butterfly House (www.butterflies.org.uk).
It might be that the reason behind why there don't seem to be
any UK butterfly releasers is that apparently the temperature
needs to be above a certain level for them to fly... and the UK
isn't known for its constantly high temperatures! There might
also be bylaws against it (as there are for swan releases in my
area!). It might be worth asking your local authority for advice.
I hope that this helps, and provides a few more avenues of investigation!
(Answered
by Emma Pirie)
A3. I have to admit
that I don’t know of any UK based companies that would supply
butterflies suitable for a release at a wedding. I believe that
our animal protection laws may make this harder to achieve in
the UK than in the US. Can I ask if there is a certain reason
why you need butterflies? If you want a spectacle, perhaps you
might like to consider a large scale balloon release – stunning,
great for photos and very easy to arrange. I do have contacts
in the US and have spoken to them about butterfly releases and
I have to say that not all go well as there are often some animals
that don’t survive transportation!
(Answered by
Tamryn Kirby)
A4. What a lovely idea.
I understand from your email you can only purchase butterflies
in the USA - from that I take it you are in the UK? Even if you
did manage to import your butterflies, they would not survive
in our climate and therefore they would probably not fly at all.
What you need are native butterflies and not tropical butterflies.
Butterflies hatch March/April and have a life span of three to
four weeks. But in the correct conditions - you could breed them
later than this.
You can breed them yourself - you buy the Chrysalids - put them
in a plastic container - feed them a mixture of sugar and water
- they will then hatch into butterflies. If you put the small
plastic container in a large tank or natural area enclosed warm
with an enclosure net they will fly around quite happily until
your wedding.
I do not suggest a large number and they may all fly off in different
directions which could be disturbing to your guests and you will
lose the effect you are trying to create.
You will also need to seek permission from your local council
and check out any Laws in connection with this. When approaching
these authorities may I suggest that you explain you have looked
after these butterflies very well and that they are almost at
the end of their life span - and you are not doing them any harm,
but simply setting them free.
There is a company is called Insect Law, they sell butterflies
in various packages and in various forms. They are based in Milton
Keynes. You will find them at www.insectlaw.co.uk
They will also be explain the laws involved - I don't think you
will have any problems.
(Answered
by Mrs S)
