Butterfly World

In December 2015, the owners of the site announced that Butterfly World would not reopen in 2016.

Supporters of Butterfly World have set up a campaign group to help preserve the project - for further details of their plans click here >>>>>

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	Butterfly Sites

First opened in June 2009 at Chiswell Green near St Albans, Butterfly World Project focused its attention on education and conservation. The 27 acre site included both wildflower meadows and formal gardens designed to attract British butterflies. The Tropical Butterfly House provided a warm environment where visitors could enjoy at close hand butterfly and moth species from Belize and other tropical countries. The plants inside had been selected with both nectaring and breeding in mind.

Butterfly Conservation supported the establishment of Butterfly World as it played an important role in publicising the plight of butterflies and moths; explaining the causes of their decline and educating visitors on what they could do to help. The outdoor areas of the site were developed into a valuable conservation resource. Removal of topsoil, the creation of south-facing chalk banks and the establishment of wildflower meadows all provided valuable butterfly habitat. The Hertfordshire and Middlesex Branch undertook regular butterfly monitoring on the site and had recorded twenty seven native and common immigrant butterfly species. Locally significant populations of Common and Small Blue have been established since 2010 and in 2016 it was noted that the Small Blue had colonised adjacent land.

Species List up to 2015

• Small Blue
• Common Blue
• Chalkhill Blue
• Holly Blue
• Small Copper
• Small Heath
• Brown Argus
• Small Skipper
• Large Skipper
• Essex Skipper
• Marbled White
• Meadow Brown
• Gatekeeper
• Small Tortoiseshell
• Peacock
• Red Admiral
• Painted Lady
• Comma
• Ringlet
• Brimstone
• Orange-tip
• Large White
• Small White
• Green-veined White
• Clouded Yellow
• Purple Hairstreak

A selection of photos taken by visitors and staff members when the project was open

Meadow area next to the Butterfly House in 2009 ©photo: Malcolm Hull	Meadow area next to the Butterfly House in 2013! ©photo: Louise Hawkins
Meadow area next to the Butterfly House in 2013 ©photo: Malcolm Hull	Antennae Walk Meadows ©photo: Louise Hawkins
Small Blue ©photo: Clive Burrows	Female Common Blue ©photo: Rachel Piper
Pond in British Butterfly Garden ©photo: Louise Hawkins	Peacock ©photo: John Humphrey