Page 15 - cn - fg- The Assembly of Time - Studio Brochure - flickbook e- presentation_Neat

The Butterfly Walk extends from the south-west corner of the house, along the top terrace.
The borders are planted out with Buddleia and plants to attract and support butterflies and
other insects. The composition forms the second part in the allegorical portrayal of Sir
Winston Churchill. The contrasting, yet mutually supporting and balancing aspects to
Churchill’s personality can be clearly seen, when considering his interests, especially his
fascination with butterflies and wildlife. Since his childhood, Churchill had engaged his
interest in collecting and mounting butterflies, this extended and continued throughout his
adult life. Churchill expanded his interest by considering the encouragement and breeding
of butterflies, and in 1946 with the help of the Kent expert and butterfly farmer, L. Hugh
th
Newman; an old 19 century game larder converted in 1924 by Philip Tilden into a sum-
mer house, was made into a butterfly house along with the creation of a butterfly border.
The experimentation in breeding and releasing butterflies into the garden ceased in 1949.
The borders have been maintained and the National Trust have planned to reintroduce the
breeding of butterflies during the summer periods. The interests in butterflies and wildlife
in general, contrast and counterbalances the roles and responsibilities that Churchill dealt
with as firstly a soldier, then politician and leader of the country during the campaign to
fight off the Nazi Regime during the second World War. Also, this interest runs parallel
and connects with Churchill’s other great passion of painting; the act to capture through
colour the beauty in landscapes and gardens as well as interiors. The most striking point is
the counterbalance to the destructive nature of war, the use of human or material energy in
a negative way. The fragile butterfly encapsulates the vulnerability of nature, which could
be considered as synonymous with that of society and humanity at large.

139377 Butterfly Walk
321/8 x 481/16 inches -o/c

Chartwell, Kent.