Native Wildlife
A few years ago Paradise Park developed a butterfly and bee garden. It is proving very popular with native wildlife and with our visitors!
We have some information to hand that you can use to help identify what you see. If you capture any photographs, we would love to see them. You can post them to us on our Facebook page or Twitter page.
The nectar-rich flowers and sunshine have attracted some lovely butterflies (dodging the occasional showers).
The Peacock butterfly and Painted Lady
Speckled Wood Butterfly
We have seen Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and we were not quick enough to photograph the Comma. We take part in the ‘Big Butterfly Count’ which runs July/August each year (for dates please see their website).
Red Admiral butterfly and a Leaf Cutting Bee
Gallery of photographs and information showing some of the native wildlife spotted at the Park
Keeper Emma uncovered this frog in one of the aviaries while cleaning. It was safely relocated to one of the ponds.
A wild frog came to say hello to Keeper Leanne as she was going about her work and she managed to capture this great photo.
Hedgehog ‘Nicola’
We know that hedgehogs live in and around Paradise Park, occasionally seeing them rootling around at dusk. We saw this small one out during the day which is an indication that something was wrong. Luckily Michaela, a member of staff in the shop, has an interest in hedgehogs and took it off for care at Hedgepigs and Hoglets Rescue. Veterinary treatment was needed and then fattening up. The hoglet was named Nicola and she went from just 225 to over 400 grammes.
Jill from the charity decided that Nicola was ready for release and brought her to the Park where we found a quiet spot near to where she was found. Food and water will be provided in case she wants it but we expect that she will soon settle into the Paradise Park grounds and be finding everything she needs.
A Meadow Brown butterfy
Large White Butterfly
A female sparrow
A male sparrow
We see Great Spotted Woodpeckers in our woodland area – it was great to know they have successfully reared young when we saw this juvenile foraging in the field.
A Common Blue Butterfly
House sparrow chick
Red Admiral Butterfly
Bumble bee on cat mint
We believe this is a Scarce Chaser Dragonfly. But if you have any other info please do email us info@paradisepark.org.uk and let us know – Thank you 🙂
The Keepers found this amazing Privet Moth inside a macaw aviary. We put it in a shady area near our butterfly garden, also recording it on ORKS.org.uk
Head Gardener Mike Kemp putting out nest boxes and a Blue Tit taking advantage of a nest box in the Park.
A Blackbird bathing and a Sparrow with chick on our terrace of nest boxes
A Humming-bird Hawk-moth and one of the many bees enjoying the Bee Garden.
Elephant hawkmoth caterpillar and a Green hawkmoth caterpillar.
Cornwall Butterfly and Moth Society
CBMS is a registered charity formed by some of Cornwall’s most knowledgeable butterfly and moth enthusiasts to manage conservation sites, carry out breeding studies and help preserve some of Cornwall’s most threatened wildlife. For more information please click here.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust