18 Sep 2026
The future of the remaining butterfly meadows at the former Butterfly World tourist attraction have been secured, with the owners ordered to restore and maintain certain areas of the site.
Due to sustained trading losses, the Butterfly World Project closed in December 2015, leaving the site in disuse before it was repurposed as a car storage facility.
However, 30 species of butterfly were recorded on the site shortly after this, making the Butterfly World site one of the most valuable and diverse sites in the district for butterflies and moths.
Notably, the site supports a significant colony of the Small Blue butterfly which had been extinct in Hertfordshire until 2005; by 2016, the Butterfly World site supported the largest colony in the county, but full recording of butterfly and moth populations has been prevented since then due to concerns for the safety of recorders while on the site.
Since 2020, the site was occupied first by Convene Construction and then by Bud Rescue and Recovery, who have allowed the operation of a large range of vehicle businesses including the stationing of caravans and shipping containers, vehicle sales and maintenance, the storage of construction plant, materials and waste, and scaffolding equipment.
In October 2022 St Albans district council issued an enforcement notice for breach of planning control, but Bud Rescue and Recovery appealed against the notice.
Planning Inspector Melissa Madge has now agreed that the company can continue operating on the site, but with strict caveats.
“Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the development on protected butterfly species that have previously thrived on the land. As part of the former visitor attraction, specialised habitats for endangered butterfly species were created and maintained. Since the closure of the visitor attraction… the various created habitat areas have not been maintained, and I saw they are returning to a natural condition…
“The raised ‘antennae chalk grassland’ and ‘Mirriam Rothschild Spiral Proboscis’ areas remain largely in situ and continue to support protected butterfly species. These areas are however returning to scrubland due to lack of maintenance…
“A landscaping scheme, including measures to conserve and enhance the raised ‘antennae chalk grassland’ and ‘Mirriam Rothschild Spiral Proboscis’ areas, and a timetable for its implementation and future maintenance shall be imposed to ensure required details are submitted, approved and implemented so as to make the development acceptable in planning terms.
“As the development has already occurred, a strict timetable for compliance will be imposed. The condition will also ensure that the development can be enforced against if the requirements are not met.”
Toilet blocks erected on the site will also need to be removed within six months.
Malcolm Hull, chair of Butterfly Conservation – Herts & Middx Branch, welcomed the decision: “I am delighted that the Planning Inspector has recognised the importance of the remaining butterfly meadows at the former Butterfly World. I look forward to working with the site owners to safeguard the site for butterflies in future.
“Butterfly numbers have reduced dramatically in recent years. Butterfly World was established to try and reverse this trend. This decision provides hope for those of us who are trying to keep this ambition alive.
“Butterfly World is one of the best sites for the Small Blue butterfly in Herts. Seventeed years ago when Butterfly World first opened its doors, the Small Blue was considered extinct in our county. Since then it has re-established, largely due to conservation and rewilding projects. I hope this decision will lead to improved management of the Butterfly World site, allowing the Small Blue to thrive there in future.
“The Herts Local Nature Recovery Strategy identifies Butterfly World as one of the key areas for biodiversity improvement. The Planning Inspector’s decision provides the basis for the necessary habitat manager improvements to happen.
“The Labour Government has dramatically weakened the planning laws which protect our countryside and important wildlife sites. Sadly this will mean the loss of much of the former Butterfly World site to development. But thankfully the most important habitat areas have been retained. Hopefully in future the Government recognises that we are in a major climate and nature crisis and enacts planning laws which better protect nature.”
