While visitors to the Stratford Butterfly Farm typically come to marvel at the kaleidoscope of winged insects fluttering overhead, they might be unaware that they’re walking through one of the UK’s most significant collections of tropical plants—a living archive that has now surpassed the 500-species milestone.
An annual inventory completed this January revealed that the popular tourist attraction, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, now houses 503 distinct plant species spanning 72 plant families. What began as a practical necessity—creating a suitable habitat for tropical butterflies—has evolved into an accidental but important conservation project.
“We’re dealing with an extraordinary rate of plant acquisition here,” explains Dr. Martin Fellows, botanical garden specialist and author of “Living Museums: The Role of Ex-Situ Conservation.” “Their collection has been growing at approximately one new species every three days throughout 2024. That’s a rate you’d expect from a dedicated botanical garden, not a butterfly attraction.”
The significance of this collection extends beyond mere numbers. Tucked among the lush greenery are several rare and endangered specimens, including the Red Seagrape (Coccoloba rugosa)—a threatened species that has lost much of its native Puerto Rican beach habitat to coastal development and rising sea levels.
What makes the butterfly farm’s approach to horticulture unique is its focus on butterfly host plants—the specific species that particular butterflies require to complete their life cycles. The Sara Longwing butterfly (Heliconius sara), for instance, can only lay its eggs on Passiflora auriculata, making this plant an essential component of any conservation effort for this butterfly species.
“We’re preserving these interdependent relationships,” explains Coogan Middlebrook, Head of Horticulture at the butterfly farm. “Each butterfly species has evolved alongside specific plants, creating intricate ecological connections. When we maintain these plant species, we’re supporting entire ecological systems, not just individual butterflies.”
Perhaps most impressive are the Swiss cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) that have been growing at the facility since its opening in 1985. These specimens, now approaching their 40th birthday, are believed to be among the largest in the UK—silent witnesses to four decades of environmental education.
The expanding plant collection at Stratford comes at a crucial time for tropical plant conservation. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as many as 40% of tropical plant species could be at risk of extinction due to deforestation, climate change, and habitat conversion. Collections like the one at Stratford serve as living gene banks—preserving species that might otherwise disappear from their native habitats.
Catherine Wilson, director of the UK Plant Conservation Network, points to facilities like the butterfly farm as examples of “conservation by proxy”—sites that weren’t established primarily for plant preservation but have nevertheless become important repositories of biodiversity.
“These collections often fly under the radar because they’re not branded as botanical gardens,” Wilson notes. “But they maintain incredible diversity with high horticultural standards. We’re increasingly recognizing their value in the broader conservation landscape.”
For visitors, the plant collection enhances the butterfly viewing experience by creating an authentic rainforest atmosphere. The towering foliage, vibrant flowers, and complex textures form a multi-sensory backdrop for the butterflies’ aerial displays.
The butterfly farm remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last entry at 5 p.m. For visitors interested in the botanical aspects of the collection, staff horticulturists are available to answer questions and provide additional information about the plants on display.
As Middlebrook reflects, “It’s been a journey of discovery for us too. What started as creating the right environment for butterflies has evolved into something much more significant. We’re now caretakers of a truly diverse botanical collection that supports both conservation and education—all while providing a magical experience for our visitors.”
