A ‘Perfect Day’ for Brockington House
Blog by Tour Leader Nick Winter.
Brockington House of Dormy Care Communities knew exactly what they had in mind when crafting their application for Myley’s ‘Perfect Day’ competition: Tara and Sharon were looking for a destination that would primarily offer a sensory experience for some of the residents with dementia who could particularly benefit from a more immersive environment than what you could find at the local garden centre. I had mentioned the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo as a unique and interesting destination (I had visited a couple of times with Brockington’s sister home, Foxhunters) and it was immediately adopted as the subject of what proved to be the winning entry!
Set in the beautiful Forest of Dean a mere wing-flutter from the river Wye at Symonds Yat, the zoo is a refreshing antidote to the rather murky history that surrounds Wye Valley and its butterflies. Apparently, in the heyday of Victorian tourism it was a honey-pot for lepidopterists who used to arrive in large numbers, net in hand, only to be taken off by the local guides in search of what they were duped into thinking were extremely rare species, but which in fact were bred locally in copious quantities by the guides’ accomplices before being released into the wild...
In complete contrast, the modern-day zoo is impeccably professional and run on strict conservation principles, sourcing butterfly eggs and chrysalises through a sustainable farming network which ultimately supports the local economies and indigenous farmers in the insects’ various native habitats around the world. As we negotiated the wheelchairs through the double-set of plastic curtains which act as a security air-lock, we were met by the wonderful wet-flannel effect that is the zoo’s carefully monitored moist tropical environment. Once my glasses had stopped steaming up, I could see the rich, damp foliage of plants and bushes stretching up to the high windows like a forest canopy. The air was rich with the smell of vegetation (not forgetting the ripe bananas laid out in trays for the butterflies to feed on!).
And then, in the corner of the eye, a flash of iridescent blue as a pair of large exotic butterflies sweep by in their elaborate dance. At first it’s a bit of a shock to realise we are in the midst of so many fragile creatures, all seemingly oblivious to our presence, but the residents quickly acclimatise to this strange new world. Emma, the senior keeper, is on hand to explain and - more importantly - to show: she has glass jars where we can see the eggs hatching out into tiny caterpillars and she hands round examples of the chrysalis, that gossamer-light cocoon that protects the insect as it undergoes its final transformation. Emma deftly dabs the residents' fingertips with a sweet sugar solution and soon the butterflies are perching on their hands...
The effect of this tangible contact is remarkable. Soon all random thoughts and worries are forgotten and we sit, mesmerised by the dazzling movement in the air around us and the shimmer of colour as the butterflies come to rest on someone's coat, or on their arm, their head. It's an extended moment of magic.
And then it’s time to cross the road to the Old Court Hotel (built in the 16th century as the local manor house) for lunch, courtesy of Myley - this is a prize-winning day, after all! We have a quiet room all to ourselves and everyone can rest and relax over a hot meal. Although of course still on duty, the accompanying staff are able to enjoy a relatively quiet hour during lunch, which I suspect they don’t often get on a busy work day. Everyone returns to Brockington tired but full of new experiences and memories. A perfect day, indeed.
