BUTTERFLIES LANDING ON YOUR FINGERS ,TOES AND NOSE!!!! (Butterfly Farm)

Member Name: KELLY170980

Product:	Butterfly Farm
Date:	17/07/09 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, calming, interesting.

Disadvantages: Very warm.

Stratford on Avon's Butterfly farm is a popular attraction in our area with families, it's based in Stratford upon Avon and is only a few minutes walk from the town centre, and is very well sign posted, even having its own bus, which runs around the area. I think this makes a great addition to any family day out when visiting Stratford.

There are also many children in our area whom visit the Butterfly Farm on school trips especially at primary school and nursery ages, and they always seem to enjoy it, no matter what age or sex.

I have been there a few times with family and friends and every time we have had a really lovely day, it really is a really gorgeous place to visit in my opinion and very interesting, I also think the staff am brilliant, very knowledgeable and great with the kids.

Well I am going to try and be brief as there is so much to see there is no way I could write it all down, so basically its like huge greenhouses, full of gorgeous different species of butterflies, from your normal UK species, so species from the Amazon and giant Owl butterflies there are so many its just amazing to see. But not only butterflies grace this farm, but there are many other lovely creatures that you can get a look at, such as; leaf cutter ants, caterpillars, giant millipedes, snails and crabs, over 15 species of spiders and scorpions, parakeets, rosella birds, parrots, doves, sunbirds, cockatiels and even a couple of iguanas, and there is probably so much more that I am forgetting.

I would advise everyone to be prepared for tropical temperatures, it's really warm obviously for the butterflies and animals that are used to warmer climates than our own, so you really do not need a coat or anything too heavy on, or else you'll be sweating buckets. It is really nice though if you have been trekking through the attractions of Stratford and the weather has not so good, which lets face it, is quite normal for our country, its so nice to walk into this lovely environment where you feel you have stepped inside a rainforest and with the sound of the water running, its such a relaxing place to visit and there are plenty of seating areas located around the farm for you to sit and soak in the atmosphere.

My best bit, although not everyone would enjoy this (my mum could not stand this at all ) is that a lot of the butterflies are flying around you, and sometimes you will be looking at something and before you know it you'll have a couple of them resting on your back or your arm or your head, its so sweet. So make sure you do not forget your cameras as I have the most gorgeous photos of my daughter with butterflies on her head and also I have a great one when she was one, and she was in her pushchair and one landed on her hand and she just sat there with her mouth wide open.....its my favourite photo in the world. But if you are scared of moths and stuff like that then I would imagine you may not like this place, as there are some very large butterflies, and if you are scared then it may make you a bit squeamish.

My son has just been doing a project on rainforests at school, so he went on a school trip there a few weeks back, and he loved it. The staff showed them around and explained which butterflies were found in which rainforest and explained all about all the different species. They also did an Amazon challenge, which was basically a tour based around their topic, so was great for them. They also hunted for the iguana, unfortunately this time they did not find him at all. It's a bit hit and miss really with the iguanas, they tend to hide, but I have seen them twice out of the four times I have visited, so not too bad of odds.

Apart from the main area there is insect city, arachnoland and the caterpillar room. All are brilliant, I must admit I'm a bit scared of the arachnoland and I don't like the scorpion, but my son loves them to bits, especially the huge scorpions..... You know what boys are like with this kind of stuff my hubby is the same, and they have some that glow in the dark, so I was freaked out, I really do not like scorpions. My son even held a tarantula is his school visit...eeerrruuuugghhh!!!

Last time I went with my daughter we spent a lot of the time in the caterpillar room, as she was convinced she was going to find Eric Carle's hungry caterpillar in there, chomping on an ice-cream!!!! Bless her!! But there was a lovely female member of staff there whom went through everything with her and explained how they change, and showed her loads of cocoons and the pupae etc, by the end of the talk, she is now a little four year old expert!! Well she thinks she is.

I could go on forever explaining all the different areas, plants, animals, attractions etc but then this review would end up an essay, but I can promise you a really lovely time no matter what your age. There is a gift shop on site that have some really nice gifts ranging in prices and styles from small souveniours like pencils etc to special ranges of gifts, like butterfly t-shirts, plates etc.

I would warn though, in my opinion this is not a whole day visit, I would imagine 2-4 hours at the most, but you can still make a day of it anyway, with the surrounding attractions at Stratford upon Avon.

We have also just had a picnic at the side of the riverbank when we last visited, and went to the park and had a great day, we mainly did this as we did not want to spend a lot of money and with the financial times the way they are I would imagine a lot of families are looking for affordable things to do in the holiday, if not affordable then free!!.

Opening times

Every day in the Summer 10.00 am till 0600 pm.
Every day apart from Xmas day in the winter 10.00 am till dusk.

Prices

Adults 5.75
Seniors and students 5.25
Children under 3 free
Children over 3 - 4.75
Family 2 adults and 2 children 16.75

Group rates for over ten
Adults 5.25
Seniors and students 4.75
Children 3.80

Address

Stratford Butterfly Farm

Swan's Nest Lane
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 7LS
England
U.K.

Tel 01789 299 288
Email:-sales@butterflyfarm.co.uk


With the school holidays starting today, then if you are in that area or visiting that area than why not give it a try, you will be not disappointed and also normally during school holidays they normally have loads going on, for e.g. bug hunts and talks and tours more specific to the children.

Summary: Great place for a visit for all ages and perefect addition to any trip to Stratford upon Avon.