Today we visited the Butterfly Farm in the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon. With over 800 years of history and home of the famous William Shakespeare, Stratford -upon- Avon is a beautiful town in the West Midlands with so much to see and do with little ones.
Visiting the Butterfly Farm
We do love our family time and today didn’t disappoint. We started off by heading to the Butterfly farm – I have been promising a visit for a while now. The Stratford-upon-Avon butterfly farm is the UK’s largest tropical butterfly paradise. The girls were so excited – butterflies and flower fairies are an ever present feature in our house just lately.
The Butterfly Farm is well signposted and we arrived at about 11.30am. The farm is easily accessible from the town centre and there is a good sized pay and display car park right next to the Butterfly Farm. We parked up the campervan and were then were able to walk to the entrance on foot with the double pushchair.
On arrival we paid our admission fee and headed straight to the flight area. Off came our hats, coats and jumpers as the heat does hit you as you leave the outside area and enter the flight area. There are facilities for hanging coats and outdoor clothes in the entrance hall but we just used the double pushchair to store all of our outdoor clothes and jumpers. The flight area is a wonderful exotic rainforest and home to around 250 species of butterflies. We purchased two butterfly checklists for £1 each, and armed with a pen and their butterfly checklists, the little ones wandered around mesmerised by the many butterflies and their wonderful shapes and colours -even babyS seemed taken by all the colours and butterflies fluttering by. There were wonderful staff on hand to ask any questions and to help the girl identify the butterflies. I did like the fact that you can take pushchairs into the butterfly area, and areas are easily accessible.
We continued on and entered the discovery zone, where there are hundreds of caterpillars on show with cocoons, giant silk moths and pupae hanging from the plants. The girls learned about the plants that they grow at the butterfly farm. There are informative signs and posts all around which is great for little inquisitive minds. We were greeted by a member of staff handling a stick insect, in the handling area..the girls were not too sure about this but Mr S was fascinated by the large stick insect and even offered out his hand.
We then headed on to the mini beast metropolis, where there is the largest live insect display in the UK. We observed hundreds of industrious ants carrying leaves along a raised ant rope measuring 15 metres in total.
Amazing Ant fact!
Did you know that ants are believed to make up half of all insects in some areas of the rainforest -and all the workers are female!? (that is a lot of hard working ladies!)
Mr S was quite fascinated by the giant African land snails, millipedes with over 200 legs, crabs, tiny poison arrow frogs and geckos, but I have to say the girls just wanted to return back to the flight area to find the waterfall, and hunt out the vibrantly coloured butterflies, continuing with their little butterfly checklists.
We stayed in the Butterfly farm for around two hours, and it was not too busy so we were able to get around easily with the pushchair and take our time reading the informative posters and signs.
We ended the tour in the gift shop which is filled with all things butterflies, bugs and flower fairies. The girls little smiles and ‘please daddy’ ended in a purchase or two to lighten the wallet.
Visitor information
During February the Butterfly Farm is open 10am-5pm but this changes throughtout the year.
2017 Admission prices;
Adults £7.25, Seniors and Students £6.75, Children 3-16 Years (under 3’s free) £6.25
Family (2 adults & 2 children) £22.50
Please check their website for more details.
Stratford-upon-Avon
In the afternoon the weather stayed fine, so we took a little stroll down by the riverside. The river is easily accessible from the Butterfly Farm and it is within walking distance. The river seemed so peaceful and calm, and luckily it wasn’t too busy. Lil_E was a little enthusiastic about all the boats, running around… subsequently falling over in all her excitement. A slice of malteser cake in the nearby cafe made it all okay 🙂
We enjoyed a lovely day out visiting the Butterfly Farm. So much so that Lil_E asked to return the moment we got home.
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Lovely photos. We stayed in Stratford years ago when our daughter was little and she loved the butterfly farm. It’s an area I’ve wanted to return to ever since. #countrykids
Author
We have never visited before but we really enjoyed it, and the butterfly farm was lovely , the girls loved it ! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 xx
Beautiful photos, looks like an interesting family day out!
Author
Thanks you so much for the lovely comment- we really had a lovely day out !
I love Stratford but have never been to the butterfly farm. It looks like a great day out. I think we’ll have to pay a visit as it’s not too far from us. Thanks for the inspiration! #Countrykids
Author
You really should it was such a lovely day out – the girls had so much fun, they are still talking about it now! Xxx
This looks a lovely place. When we go to butterfly farms my favourite is the electric blue ones-just stunning #countrykidsfun
Author
Those electric blue ones really stand out don’t they ! Such pretty colours ! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
It looks fascinating! 🙂
Love the photos of the butterflies.
Coming over from #CountryKids 🙂 x
Author
Thanks for the lovely comment- I enjoyed trying to snap pictures of the butterflies ! All those gorgeous colours 🙂
Butterflies were my obsession when I was a little girl. I had the observer book of butterflies and learned the names of all the British varieties. I have to say your photos here have me stumped, they are from further afield and quite beautiful with their markings. The butterfly house sounds well laid out and great for taking the buggy in with you. The checklist looked like it was £1 well spent for the girls. I love your photos of Stratford too, I’ve not visited in years but remember the river and that bridge quite clearly.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Author
Thanks so much for the lovely comment 🙂 we had such a lovely day. The girls absolutely love butterflies and loved the fact that they landed on your head 🙂 we have never visited Stratford but it was so pretty . Thanks again for hosting #CountryKids – we love it ! Xxx
You got some fabulous photos. The butterfly farm looks lovely and so much fun for the little ones x
Author
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! The little ones had such a lovely day , it so nice to find different days out. 🙂 xx
The Butterfly Farm sounds like a fascinating place to visit and love your photos of some of the beautiful butterflies you saw. The discovery zone and the mini beast metropolis sound so interesting although I suspect I would be with your girls on wanting to go back to the flight zone! Sounds like it was a lovely day out 🙂 #countrykids
Author
Thanks Louise, yes the flight zone was the place to be 😉 The girls loved it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting x.
The Butterfly House is lovely and we often visit, as we don’t live too far away. However my OH doesn’t like anything that flies so he always waits outside!
I think you’ve captured it really well with your photography
Glad you had a good day out
#CountryKids
Author
It’s such a lovely place to visit isn’t it? We will definitely return! I was really taken with Stratford too its so pretty ! Thanks for stopping by xx
I love butterflies and this is right up my street – unfortunately my husband and eldest daughter would freak out if there were lots of butterflies which might potentially land on them! May have to take a trip here without them!!
#countrykids
Author
Aah I made out it was for the kids but I secretly loved the visit too! We will definitely return! Thanks for stopping by xx
What an amazing place and the largest in the U.K.! We’ll definitely have to go check it out after reading your review x #TriedTested
Author
Thank you so much , yes they advertise as the uk’s largest tropical paradise- (I have never been to any other so I’m not sure !) it’s was a lovely day out – thanks for commenting xx
I picked a leaflet up for this place the other day, it’s definitely on my list of places to visit. I love butterflies. Your photos are beautiful.
#CountryKids
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Aw you really just do Anne it was a lovely place to visit! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting xxx
What beautiful photos, sounds like a lovely family day out. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
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Thanks so much Kate we really enjoyed it ! So many beautiful colours to photograph! Xx
Thanks for sharing your review on #TriedTested this week x
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Thanks so much for hosting ! Xx
On talking to my hubby about your post he thinks it must be a new attraction to the area. It sounds like a great place to visit with the girls.#MondayEscapes
Author
I am. It sure how long it has been there – but lovely place to visit! Thanks for stopping by x
Author
I am not sure how long it has been there – but lovely place to visit! Thanks for stopping by x
Really lovely photos what a fab thing to do particularly on a rainy day I imagine too. I’ve scheduled for a share on fb. Thanks for linking up to #mondayescapes
Author
Thanks so much Karen ! I’m still practising with my new camera 🙂 I love
Monday escapes – thanks for hosting xxx
Oh I just love the butterfly farm, we visited last year and the beauty of the butterflies is just breathtaking, it was funny as Jack was scared and could not get out fast enough ! Although of course he wouldn’t admit it afterwards x
Author
It’s lovely isn’t it!? I was really taken with Stratford-upon-Avon too it is so pretty !!! I love #MondayEscapes – thank you for hosting xxx
ooh and thank you so much for linking up #mondayescapes x
I absolutely love butterflies, they are beautiful and amazing to photograph. It looks like you had a fab day out! Thanks for linking up to #ThePlaceWeWillGoLinky xx
This sounds like a lovely day out. And nice to know it is buggy accessible! #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky
I’ll admist, butterflies have always made me a little nervous. It’s be too strong to say I was ‘scared’ of them, but definitely a little wary! I’m trying to be braver though, haha – this does look like a lovely day out for those less wimpy than I!