KEMP Hospice Butterfly Release 2026

Yes, absolutely, you can make a donation for as many butterflies as you would like. Each donation made includes one free entry to Bodenham Arboretum for the Butterfly Release event on Saturday 12th September. So for example, if you make two donations, you will receive two entries. Each donation helps to raise vital funds for KEMP Hospice so we are grateful for your support.

Though we’d like everyone to be there to share in the beautiful occasion and to release their own butterfly, if you can’t make it on Saturday 12th September,  please let us know and our team will release your butterfly for you.

With thanks to Bodenham Arboretum, they have kindly donated one free entry per butterfly. Friends and family who would like to attend the Butterfly release, will be required to pay the entry fee. You are free to spend the whole day there and enjoy the grounds and facilities.

Alternatively you can donate for more than one butterfly, so each person in your group can release their own. Each donation includes one free entry and will help to raise vital funds for KEMP Hospice.

As you arrive at Bodenham Arboretum, head from the car park to the main registration area where the KEMP Team will be able to get you checked in for the Butterfly Release. When ready, go through the main gate to make your way to the event area, our team will help direct you if you are unfamiliar with the location.

Follow the walkway to the event area located by ‘The Park’. The route will be well sign posted and we’ll have some wonderful volunteers along the way who will help to direct you. This map will help to give you a rough guide to the various locations.

If you have attended the Butterfly Release in the past, we’ll be in the same location as previous years.

As stated on Bodenham Arboretum website “Bodenham Arboretum is a ‘natural visitor attraction’ and the terrain / pathways may prove challenging at certain points, especially for small wheeled wheelchairs. There is a paved slope down to our cafe and restaurant so accessing these should not be a problem.”

The Butterfly Release event takes place on a grassy area so access may be challenging particularly depending on ground conditions at the time of the event. If you’d like to discuss further please contact our Fundraising Team on 01562 756066 or email fundraising@kemphospice.org.uk

The timings are subject to weather conditions, and for the welfare of the butterflies we will wait for any rain to stop before we go ahead with the release. Please note, umbrellas should not be used at any time whilst the release is taking place.

If it is raining or dark, the butterflies will naturally be sleepy. KEMP Hospice will keep the butterflies somewhere cool and safe until there is a break in the weather.

They will be released at the beautiful Bodenham Arboretum, with 200 being released at any one time. If we have more than 200 to release, we will have to designated areas to release the butterflies, to protect the existing wildlife and allow the butterflies to be released safely and responsibly.

No, for the welfare of the butterflies, KEMP Hospice will receive and care for the butterflies 24 hours prior to the release. All butterflies will be released together in an environment that is safe and suitable for them the thrive.

The butterflies are a variety of native butterflies, predominantly Painted Lady Butterflies.

As the butterflies are a random range of native butterflies, we cannot specify the exact colour butterfly you will receive.

We have carefully selected this species that occur naturally in the wild, here in the UK, during the summer months.

The release boxes are designed to enable the butterflies to move around if required, they will not damage their wings at all, they are white small filigree boxes each one tied with a ribbon.

The Boxes have small cut out design so you can see your Butterfly before it is released, by untying the ribbon and gently opening the release box the Butterfly will slowly climb to the top. The Painted Lady Butterfly is one of the tamest Butterflies we can provide, often they will happily hop onto your hand if you hold it next to the Butterfly, a chance to be up close and personal with your Butterfly before it flies away.

This is nothing of concern, it is butterfly waste and not blood. It is perfectly normal.

If you are unable to attend, please let KEMP Hospice know. A member of staff will release your butterfly on your behalf on the day. Due to the welfare of the butterflies, they will be released at a specific time and all together.

The butterflies are native, migratory butterflies and have all been responsibly sourced from a registered UK breeder. The ecological impact of the release has been assessed in conjunction with the Arboretum and deemed safe.

The welfare of the butterflies has been an absolute priority. All the butterflies are bred, by a UK registered breeder and their emergence as adult butterflies is timed so that all the butterflies for release are fresh adults, up to a week old, but generally only a couple of days as an adult. Butterflies generally live for 4-6 weeks giving them time after release, to feed, mate (if they haven’t already done so) and lay eggs and behave perfectly naturally.

If you’d like to learn more about the butterflies, please visit Butterflies for Occasions.

Yes, absolutely, the breeders will send the Butterflies in cooled and controlled conditions to ensure their comfort and safety on their journey. When cold blooded creatures are cooled down, they naturally sleep. The breeders also use an excellent delivery service who know the importance of delivering the Butterflies carefully and on time all over the UK.