Love butterflies

Pupils in the weekly gardening club at Parley First School, Ferndown have planted a butterfly garden within the school grounds.  Environmental Studies Leader Varsha Roche approached the Haskins Garden Centre at Longham to source and supply a large variety of plants favoured by  butterflies after designing the layout.  The centre donated £100 worth of shrubs and additional bags of wood-chip and compost to support the project.
 
Ben Turner, Plant Advisor from Haskins, was invited by the school to view the garden.
 
“We were delighted to be able to support and contribute towards the butterfly garden – it’s a great idea,” said Ben Turner.  “The majority of the wish list of twenty-nine butterfly attracting plants which included buddleia, lavender, chrysanthemum and honeysuckle could be supplied.  Some were classified as wild flowers or weeds that are generally not stocked by garden centres.”
 
Varsha Roche said that she will keep Ben and the team informed as to how many species of butterflies are observed visiting the garden throughout the summer.