A Butterfly Butler, Tiny Park & a Dash of Magic: Inside the UK’s First ‘Butterfly Resort’

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spot a Red Admiral fluttering past on a summer’s day, you’ll know there’s something quietly magical about butterflies. But here’s the bad news: 2024 marked one of the worst years on record for Britain’s butterflies, with numbers plummeting across the board. So, what’s being done about it? Well, […] The post A Butterfly Butler, Tiny Park & a Dash of Magic: Inside the UK’s First ‘Butterfly Resort’ appeared first on MK Pulse.

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spot a Red Admiral fluttering past on a summer’s day, you’ll know there’s something quietly magical about butterflies. But here’s the bad news: 2024 marked one of the worst years on record for Britain’s butterflies, with numbers plummeting across the board. So, what’s being done about it?

Well, one conservation-minded country house hotel in Buckinghamshire is taking matters into its own (beautifully rewilded) hands.

Nestled in 38 acres of countryside just outside Milton Keynes, Horwood House has launched the UK’s first-ever ‘Butterfly Resort’—and it’s every bit as whimsical and wonderful as it sounds. Picture this: a whole village of brightly painted butterfly houses, a teeny football pitch, a pint-sized park, and even a pond. It’s like a holiday camp for pollinators.

But there’s purpose behind the play. Designed with sustainability, education and—yes—a touch of childlike joy in mind, the Butterfly Resort is part of Horwood House’s broader commitment to protecting the UK’s delicate biodiversity. And it’s a team effort.

Students from Winchester House School, Stowe School and Swanbourne School brought the butterfly houses to life, using bold colours and creative flair to charm young visitors and grown-up nature lovers alike. It’s joyful. It’s eye-catching. And it’s also got a “Butterfly Butler” on staff—yes, really.

Each day, this honorary winged concierge pops out with a tray of overripe fruit from the hotel’s kitchens, offering up sweet treats to their fluttery residents. (Spoiler: butterflies love bananas.) It’s not just adorable—it’s vital. These regular feedings help attract and support eight native British butterfly species that already frequent this corner of the estate.

“We created the Butterfly Resort to not only enhance our gardens and grounds,” says Leighton Reid, Hotel Manager at Horwood House, “but to engage children and visitors in conversations about conservation. Butterflies are stunning and vital pollinators that are currently in a significant state of decline. Through a playful yet meaningful initiative, we’re hoping to raise awareness and foster curiosity, while also inspiring stewardship in future generations.”

And it doesn’t stop there.

Horwood House has also teamed up with Urban Bee-lievers, a social enterprise that’s all about championing pollinators and people. Beehives have been installed across the grounds, with young people supported by the group getting hands-on experience alongside Horwood’s chefs—whipping up honey-based dishes while learning why bees matter (hint: it’s not just the honey).

It’s all part of a broader green mission: from tree planting to organic gardening and ongoing rewilding efforts, this hotel isn’t just talking about the environment—it’s getting its hands dirty.

At the Butterfly Resort’s official unveiling, Hugh Ellerton, Trustee at Butterfly Conservation, put it plainly: “British butterflies are in crisis. The Butterfly Resort at Horwood House is a wonderful initiative that combines conservation, education and creativity—helping inspire future generations to care about nature.”

He’s right, of course. We all have a part to play. Whether it’s planting pollinator-friendly flowers in your own garden or taking part in the Big Butterfly Count (running right now, by the way), there are countless small steps we can take.

Because once you’ve seen a butterfly land gently on your sleeve—or met a Butterfly Butler handing out bananas—you’ll understand: these tiny creatures are worth every ounce of effort.

Want to visit the Butterfly Resort or get involved?

Find more info, resources and a peek at the butterfly village here: www.horwoodhouse.co.uk/the-butterfly-resort

The post A Butterfly Butler, Tiny Park & a Dash of Magic: Inside the UK’s First ‘Butterfly Resort’ appeared first on MK Pulse.