A COLOURFUL cascade of butterfly sculptures is being unveiled in Worcester next week.

Throughout August, 1,000 handmade butterflies will be on display at St Andrew's spire in Worcester.

August 12 will see the butterflies unveiled, where they will be on display until August 29, raising money for St Richard's Hospice.

The butterflies follow similar displays from recent years, including snowdrops, dragonflies and bees.

Each butterfluy was handcrafted by Evesham man Ed Alvis, from Metal Art UK.

People are being encouraged to celebrate and remember loved ones or mark a special occasion by donating for a butterfly, which they can later take home as a keepsake or a gift.

Donations to help create this sculpture installation will help fund St Richard’s care of patients, their loved ones and bereaved people across Worcestershire.

Matt Jackson, family support manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said: "The butterflies will create a colourful, eye-catching garden, which will be an ideal focal point for celebration and reflection in the heart of Worcester. 

"A symbol of transformation and hope, butterflies are also reflective of our work with families and young people as we support them to navigate the changes that arise when a loved one has a serious progressive illness or they are bereaved."

Donors will be invited to collect a butterfly from The Spire or from the hospice after the display has come to an end. Butterflies can also be posted.

The butterfly creator, Ed Alvis, is well known from his appearances on television’s Scrap Kings for the Quest channel and has a personal connection with the hospice.

His father was cared for at home by St Richard’s during a short illness before he died in 2013.

His second year supporting the hospice Celebration Garden, Ed felt creating the butterflies was another opportunity to show his gratitude for that help.

To order a butterfly online visit https://www.strichards.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/celebration-garden/ or secure one by calling the St Richard’s Fundraising Team on 01905 958262.

Celebration Garden is kindly sponsored by Blue Print Direct Mail Limited and supported by Metal Art UK.

For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk