Deco mag Spring '17 issue

Deco promotion
The hungry butterfly
Butterfly populations are in decline in many parts of Britain and
around the world. A design duo from Finland have devised a
simple butterfly feeder that can help our fluttering friends to thrive
Above and right: Belightful is a new butterfly oasis designed by Miia Liesegang and Tania Tallal who
make up Belightful Design. The feeder is made in Finland from eco-friendly recycled plastic.
Conservationists say
butterflies are important
indicators of the health of the
environment, and therefore
the decline in their numbers
in the UK and in many other
countries should be a concern
to us all.
But the good news is that
anyone with a garden, be it
large or a pocket hanky, can
help butterflies to survive and
indeed thrive. How? by
planting butterfly and
pollinator-friendly plants
such as lavender,
gardeners can help create
a better home for insects
which play a vital role in
pollinating wildflowers and
many crops.
The UK’s estimated 22m
gardens represent an area
roughly the size of Somerset
and, at a time when butterflies
are in severe decline, offer a
potentially huge and vitally
important habitat.
Finnish duo Mila Liesegang
and Tania Tallal of ecological
design studio Belightful have
developed a product just for
butterflies, the Butterfly Oasis.
Made from eco plastic that
contains recycled plastic and
is 100 per cent recyclable, the
feeder can be hung from a
branch, fence or railing and it
comes in several eye-catching
colours chosen because they
match the colours of many
summer flowers - lilac, pink,
and yellow.
Made in two parts, the base
unscrews and you fill it with
the nectar solution. Then put
in a super-absorbent sponge
and it will draw up the liquid
into the top half of the feeder.
You’ll see this part has lots of
little holes across its surface.
The butterfly will be attracted
to the scent of the nectar and
will drink its fill by putting
its long proboscis through
the holes.
Liesegang says she loves
butterflies and was moved to
design the feeder because
of the decline in their
populations. ‘Our biodiversity
is being badly affected by
the built environment. We all
know to feed the birds, but
butterflies also need our
help too.’
And she says by offering
another source of food in
our gardens or outside
space, we can get a moment
or two with these elusive,
entrancing creatures: ‘It’s
so nice to experience happy
little moments watching
butterflies feed.’
www.belightfuldesign.com
Belightful butterfly
oasis cost £49.90
and the pack includes
a month’s supply
of nectar powder.
Thereafter monthly
nectar refills cost £8.90
Deco mag 17