Breed and release
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2022 10:45 am
I live on M.O.D land where the contactors spare little though for butterflies and bees 
The hedge cutting and the ditch cutting is geared around open days and passing out parades and not the birds, bees, and butterflies . I became interested last year after spotting loads of caterpillar nests in the nettles only to see the grass cutter raze them to the ground. I recued a few took them home and fed them and cleaned them out everyday. I bought a couple of the mesh butterfly house online and successfully raised and released 10 small tortoiseshell butterflies. From then on (recently retired) I was hooked. I carried on throughout the year and even managed to over Winter Elephant hawk moths and Cinnabar's. This spring I bought a greenhouse added 2 huge pots of nettles and a 3 coloured pot Buddleia. I then went on the search for nest carefully taking just a few from each to get a good mix of lines. I managed to breed and release dozens and added 3 to the greenhouse which successfully bred, laid and and pupated and released. Also had 3 net baskets which I raised Peacocks and red admirals in my kitchen and released them. I have saved a few of each of the last brood and hoping they will over winter in the houses I have provided.
The hedge cutting and the ditch cutting is geared around open days and passing out parades and not the birds, bees, and butterflies . I became interested last year after spotting loads of caterpillar nests in the nettles only to see the grass cutter raze them to the ground. I recued a few took them home and fed them and cleaned them out everyday. I bought a couple of the mesh butterfly house online and successfully raised and released 10 small tortoiseshell butterflies. From then on (recently retired) I was hooked. I carried on throughout the year and even managed to over Winter Elephant hawk moths and Cinnabar's. This spring I bought a greenhouse added 2 huge pots of nettles and a 3 coloured pot Buddleia. I then went on the search for nest carefully taking just a few from each to get a good mix of lines. I managed to breed and release dozens and added 3 to the greenhouse which successfully bred, laid and and pupated and released. Also had 3 net baskets which I raised Peacocks and red admirals in my kitchen and released them. I have saved a few of each of the last brood and hoping they will over winter in the houses I have provided.