The beautiful and poignant Willow Wood Hospice annual Butterfly Memory Release was held last Saturday.

There were three staged releases of butterflies throughout the day to enable the large numbers who wished to attend to remember a loved one and release a butterfly.

The sun shone on each with all three releases dodging the showers and much heavier downpours that arrived later in the day. 

The release is an opportunity for those who have lost someone close to remember a loved one, each life represented by a butterfly.

Ten minutes before each release Andrew Price played violin, with one of the hospice’s chaplains saying a few words during the release and the Willow Wood Choir singing following each release.

Hospice fundraising director Sam Duncan said: “It was a fantastic event and so well supported by members of the community and a really moving day. I was really proud to be a member of the Willow Wood team and I would like to thank everyone who supported the day and all the volunteers who made it such a success.”

If you’ve ever wondered why butterflies are used, it is because, in folklore and myths throughout the world, they are seen as a symbol for the soul. Indeed, the ancient Greek word for butterfly was the same as their word for the soul. It’s not just in European myths, but in many cultures across the world butterflies are revered in the same way.

As an alternative to live butterflies, supporters could purchase a metal bespoke butterfly to place in the gardens in memory of a loved one.