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)