Help save the Adonis Blue and have tea at The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa, Midhurst, West Sussex

June 25, 2013 - PRLog -- The Adonis Blue is one of our favourite butterflies, small and very rare.  Named after the Greek god of beauty and desire, the males are blue and females are brown with a row of orange spots with blue edges on the hind-wing (above). Their natural habitat is chalk and limestone grassland, including the South Downs National Park in West Sussex.

With butterfly numbers falling, mainly due to the wet weather last summer  - and inspired by the work of the Park’s butterfly conservation project which has a specific focus on the iconic Adonis Blue  - the chefs at The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa in Midhurst have created the Adonis Blue Butterfly Afternoon Tea.   This charming blue-themed tea will be served throughout the summer months – with 10% of all proceeds being donated to The South Downs National Park project.

A selection of finger sandwiches, home-made cakes including butterfly-shaped iced biscuits, delectable butterfly cakes topped with blue buttercream, home-made scones, a choice of teas, coffee or hot chocolate.

A special tribute to this iconic butterfly is the Adonis Blue Cocktail, which accompanies the tea and beautifully reflects the colour of the insects and the surrounding South Downs countryside.   The recipe uses local Upperton Vineyard Southdown sparkling wine and local Lurgashall Mead.   The taste and aroma is of orange - and an appropriate hint of honey…

The Adonis Blue Butterfly Afternoon Tea at The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa will be available all summer, at £25.50 with £2.50 going to the conservation.  Afternoon tea can be booked by calling T: 01730 816911 or by email to spreadeagle@hshotels.co.uk. Further information can be found on http://www.hshotels.co.uk

The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa, South Street, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9HN

For more information:
Victoria Coombes, Mango PR - T: 020 7421 2500 |  E: victoria.coombes@mangopr.com


NOTES TO EDITORS

The South Downs National Park project is working to improve and increase the chalk grassland in the South Downs National Park which is vital to the survival of butterfly species such as the Adonis Blue.  Chalk grassland is an internationally important but endangered habitat often described as being as rich and diverse as tropical rainforest, but only about four per cent of the National Park remains as chalk grassland.

The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa in Midhurst is one of the oldest coaching inns in England, dating back to the 15th century with an impressive guest list including Queen Elizabeth I, H G Wells and Guy Fawkes. Every room is different, with a wonderful range of intriguing antiques and treasures. The Aquila spa which offers an attractive array of Elemis treatments, indoor pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna complements the main house with its roaring log fires, stained glass windows and sentried hallway.