Chamber of Commerce and Bee City USA Inaugurate Asheville Butterfly Trail
Asheville, North Carolina hosts a vibrant unveiling ceremony
Asheville, North Carolina (Aug. 29, 2024) – With the rays of the warm summer sun gracing the city, amidst the applause and cheers of the crowd, the ribbon was cut, marking the official opening of the Asheville Butterfly Trail. The ceremony was hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Bee City USA on August 29th at the Asheville Visitor Center.
Asheville Mayor, Esther Manheimer, kick-started the event with an enthusiastic speech highlighting the ecological importance and cultural relevance of this trail. Following Mayor Manheimer’s inaugural address was the address by the founder of Bee City USA-Asheville, Phyllis Stiles.
The Significance of Butterflies
In her speech, Stiles accentuated the ecological role of butterflies, calling them “pollinators” and “ambassadors of pollinator conservation.” She expressed hope that the large-scale butterfly figures placed along the trail would induce the visitors to think about the smaller, real-life butterflies they encounter in the wild. Stiles believes that the trail might be a new beginning for most people in terms of pollinator conservation awareness and action.
Asheville Butterfly Trail in Detail
The Asheville Butterfly Trail result of a year-long planning. It features a series of fifteen human-scale butterfly figures, each representing a species native to Western North Carolina. Strategically placed at locations throughout Buncombe County, these figures are bound to keep visitors engrossed.
Following the notion of learning through interaction, each butterfly figure comes with an invitation for visitors to pose with their wings, simulating the butterfly’s body. Furthermore, every butterfly figure is accompanied by a signpost which communicates the species’ natural history. QR codes are also available to be scanned, providing visitors with additional information about the butterfly species and the Butterfly Trail initiative.
An Outreach for Pollinator Conservation
The Asheville Butterfly Trail is the most recent addition to the many pollinator conservation outreach programs being led by Bee City USA-Asheville. This city is deemed to be the originating affiliate of the national Bee City USA initiative. The national program boasts more than 400 affiliate communities across 47 states.
To find more details about the Asheville Butterfly trail and about other conservation efforts by Bee City, visit the Bee City website.
With the official inauguration of the Asheville Butterfly Trail, this North Carolinian city has once again demonstrated its dedication to ecological conservation and environmental education. As visitors stroll down the trail, interacting with these larger-than-life butterfly sculptures, they will not only discover an aesthetic delight but also an opportunity for environmental learning.
