The butterfly and other invertebrates project is focused on enhancing onsite habitat for all invertebrates as well as educating visitors about their important role in improving environmental health. In order to attract butterflies, specific food plants must be planted as hosts for caterpillars. By providing a habitat for butterflies, we provide a habitat for other wildlife. The Butterfly Walk and Butterfly Wetland have been created to attract and sustain our butterfly population.
What do we do?
We develop and maintain 6 projects on the Woodfordia site:
- The Welcome Walk -maintaining the pathway from the Ticket Tent to the Welcome Gate – this has been enhanced with the food plants for a wide range of butterflies (and other insect). Some plants are highlighted with butterfly lifecycle signs.
- The Butterfly Wetland – below a dam – is being developed as butterfly, bee and small bird habitat.
- Four-barred Swordtail plantings – Zig Zag Vines (Melodorum leichhardtii) have been planted in a section so that they can grow through the canopy. This will provide habitat for these butterflies to breed.
- Richmond Birdwing plantings– we are encouraging this butterfly to breed onsite more frequently. Female Birdwings have been seen locating their host plants, also caterpillars are occasionally found.
- Butterfly plantings at Amenities blocks – a selection of butterfly gardening plants have been planted at various amenities block in the Festival Village. These are enhanced and maintained.
- Native Stingless Bees and Bee walls for solitary native bees – hives and nesting sites have been established onsite.
Tasks undertaken at monthly working bees include:
- weeding, watering and maintaining various plantings
- adding new plants when appropriate
- learning about the plants, insects and ecological systems
When and where do we meet?
Last Sunday of each month at Woodfordia (aka the Woodford Folk Festival site), 87 Woodrow Rd, Stanmore, from 8am. The main sessions are 8.30 – 10am, 10.30 – 12 noon
Butterfly Project Working bee sessions are also organised for the Saturday afternoon (3 – 5pm), and for early birds on Sunday mornings (6.15 – 7.45am).
Join us camping on the Saturday evening and share an evening of fun (with the TreeHuggers). Bring food to share and an instrument if you play one. Sunday sausage sizzle lunch is provided.
What can you gain from being involved?
Become involved and:
- Make a contribution: feel that you’re making a difference in the broader community.
- Build friendships and share ideas with like-minded people, join our Woodfordia community.
- Enjoy leisure activities: come to rest, recreate, have fun and be creative (particularly if you join in with the Saturday night fun).
- Learn new skills, gain a new knowledge base (or build on one you have), gain a hands-on insight into how biological/ecological systems work.
- Ground yourself and make contact with nature through observing, weeding and planting, exercising.
How does this project contribute to Woodfordia?
Festivals and functions at Woodfordia provide an outreach opportunity to a large number of community members. This makes the site an excellent demonstration and community education opportunity for some lesser known aspect of nature conservation namely invertebrates. Invertebrates comprise 99% of the animal species on our planet, of which insects comprise 85% – that’s millions of species. The vast majority are completely benign to people, and essential to the planet’s ecosystems and health. We know almost nothing about them or their importance. This is a great opportunity to spread this idea and add an extra layer of value to the Festival.
How can you become involved?
Contact Helen Schwencke via email butterflies@woodfordia.com.
You will be added to an email reminder list for each month’s working bee.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
If you are interested in hearing more and possibly getting involved in our Butterfly projects, please add your details below and we will be in touch.
Get Involved In Our Butterfly Projects
