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Enjoy a fun, family-friendly 'Bug Hunt' trail around the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Conservation Centre this February half-term holiday and who knows what wild discoveries you might make along the way!

This outdoor trail coincides with a year-long celebration of native species to highlight the invaluable conservation work the Tropical Butterfly House are involved in a little closer to home.

Did you know? The Tropical Butterfly House owns 46.5 acres of land purely to conserve British wildlife. With 3 sites in Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire the team are dedicated to improving habitats for a wide variety of native species. A percentage of the admission price you pay to visit the centre goes into the management and upkeep of this land and makes purchasing wildflower seeds and birdboxes possible. Animals that have been spotted here include large herds of red deer, barn owls, grass snakes and an abundance of native butterflies.

You can find out more about the Tropical Butterfly House’s local wildlife conservation work here https://www.butterflyhouse.co.uk/wildlife-conservation.php

Back at the park, get even closer than you can imagine with amazing animal encounters taking place every day. The award-winning Wilderness Walkthrough enclosure is open all year round where visitors are encouraged to wrap up warm and bring their binoculars for a turn at the Bird Identification Station. With the park being home to one of the largest populations of tree sparrow, have a go at spotting them here along with different species of finches, tits and other native birds and learn more about how to get birds into your own garden during Bird Identification encounters with the animal team.

Cross over the Wildlife Pond by stepping-stones to see who is checking in at the Bug Hotel and view life through the eyes of a fly! Try on the special ‘bug’ glasses to see how very different the world looks to its minibeast residents. Find out why these creepy-crawlies are so very important to us ‘Springwatch’ style at ‘Meet the Minibeast’ talks taking place in the Nature Cabin located on the Woodland Walk.

Younger birdwatchers might just spot a very distant relative of the birds we see today hiding on the Dino Trail but dinosaurs, please don't stand on the snowdrops! There are 10,000 snowdrops planted along the walkways of the Dino Trail for you to admire - a welcome sign that spring is not too far away!

Learn about ‘Beautiful Butterflies’ with a talk about their amazing lifecycle or feed a pot of nectar to the colourful lorikeets inside the Butterfly House. You can also feed the playful residents of the Farm Barn and meet wildlife from around the world at the Lemur Walkthrough, Exotic Animal, Otter and Meerkat encounters and talks and take a seat for fantastic Free Flying Bird and Animal Displays.

Don’t miss the Tractor Trailer Rides and conquer the Realm of Camelot adventure playground with its slides, tunnels and tower or enjoy ride-on tractors, a zip-wire, air cannons, sandpit and picnic area. If it’s a little chilly outside, make a seed pot and enjoy other bug-inspired activities from bug houses to face-painting in our arts and crafts room and Jungle gift shop, or enjoy a delicious treat in the Butterfly Café or Lottie’s Coffee Lounge serving bug-themed milkshakes, try one if you dare!

The Bug Trail takes place throughout the holiday from Saturday 15 February to Sunday 23 February 2020, 10am – 5pm, normal park admission charges apply. A small fee is charged for nectar and animal feed (subject to availability) and some arts and craft activities. See www.butterflyhouse.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/events/2543105539264938/ to plan your visit.