Plumstead Road Library opens Butterfly Garden

Added: 05/11/2008
Category: Norfolk County Council

A Norwich library is set to open a garden designed to be a haven for readers and butterflies alike.

Butterflies may be in short supply at this time of year but it is hoped that by next spring, the new Butterfly Garden at Plumstead Road Library will be teeming with them. In the meantime, human visitors to the library will be able to make the most of the garden after it is officially opened on Friday 7 November.

The landscaped garden was created with a £7,500 grant from The Big Lottery Fund and features benches for people to sit and read or just relax. Plants have been chosen to attract butterflies and include buddleia, climbing roses and wild flowers. Some of the plants were donated by members of the local community.

Jennifer Holland, Head of Libraries at Norfolk County Council, said: “I have no doubt that the garden will go down a storm with existing members and perhaps attract some new people to visit the library. There is an increasing expectation for libraries to feature versatile spaces where people can relax and read or get to know their neighbours, and the Butterfly Garden certainly fulfils this.”

Work to transform the grassed area around the library into the Butterfly Garden began last December with a planting day for local children. Pupils from nearby Lionwood Junior School have played a big part in the design and planting of the garden and a number of them will be at the opening ceremony on Friday. Lionwood's Taslima Begum, 10, will cut the ribbon on the day after her drawings were used on the sign for the garden. A cake decorated with butterflies will also be cut at the opening ceremony.

John Gretton, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services at Norfolk County Council, said: “This is a magnificent achievement by members of staff at Plumstead Road Library and also the wider community, who have really got behind the idea of the Butterfly Garden. I am sure the garden will continue to be as popular when completed as it was during its creation.”

The Butterfly Garden is part of the Breathing Places campaign from the BBC to inspire and motivate communities to create and care for nature-friendly green spaces where they live.