ONLY nine weeks after moving into their new premises children and staff at a Teesdale nursery have been helping butterflies find a new home too.
Children at Kirklands Nursery, which moved from Bede Road in Barnard Castle to the former Startforth Morritt Memorial School less than two months ago, have spent six weeks nurturing caterpillars through their life cycle into butterflies.
“They hatched last week,” said nursery owner Janice Duffy-McGhie. “And we’ve been waiting for a fine, warm day to release them.”
The butterflies, two red admirals and one painted lady, had been purchased as caterpillars and the children have watched as they metamorphised.
“The children have been learning the life cycle of the butterflies from caterpillar through the chrysallis stage and now into butterflies,” added Ms Duffy-McGhie.
“They have assisted in the feeding of the butterflies with sugar water, left over fruit from lunchtime and wild flowers.”
The butterflies were transported in their temporary, specialist mesh basket home, which had been kept in a warm spot within the nursery, to the garden of Roy Swainston, of Hunter Lodge, Startforth, before they were released. As well as feeding the caterpillars, the children have created paintings and studied the symmetry of the butterflies.
“We know the butterflies will be happy now,” added Ms Duffy-McGhie, who also planning to plant a buddleia tree at the nursery to attract more butterflies next year.
