museums & attractions

Butterfly World Project

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The Butterfly World Project is a pioneering conservation project open from April to October. Set among the 27 acres of land that will become Butterfly World in 2011, it showcases inspiring garden designs, wildflower meadows and a tropical butterfly house that will captivate all ages. See our photo gallery.

Visitors can enjoy 12 temporary contemporary gardens from some of Europe's best known designers as well as some new faces to the gardening world. Each garden has an individual theme and all aim to demonstrate that sustainability and innovative design can co-exist and be mutually beneficial.

Alongside these are permanent gardens: a Through the Flowerpot Garden allowing visitors to see the world from an insect's eye view; the Spangle Gall Garden engages children in ten different mini-installations and the Theatre of Insects Garden shows how even the strangest of man-made objects can create an ecologically sensitive habitat for insects. Visitors can also enjoy the Very Hungry Caterpillar Garden inspired by the children's story, a spiral Proboscis walk and Antennae paths lined with south-facing chalk banks and wildflowers to attract native butterflies and insects.

Although the main butterfly bio-dome is yet to be built, there is a small butterfly house to enjoy. Visitor facilities include 'beehive' toilets and baby changing, a cafe with outdoor covered seating, a gift shop and plant sales area. New attractions in 2010 include the Chrysalis Lake, a Butterfly Breeding House, an Insect Study Centre, new feature gardens, the Nectar House Cafe, picnic and play areas. Children's parties will also be available in the Solardome.

Admission (2010): Adults £6, Children (aged 3 to 16) £4, Seniors/Students £5, Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £19. Seasonal membership: Adults £36, Children £11.50, Seniors/Students £22. Seasonal membership (from 1 Feb 2010): Adults £36, Children £24, Seniors/Students £30, Family £99. Educational visits and group rates available. View our photo gallery

Overview

Facilities:	Free parking, Disabled access, Disabled toilets, Baby changing, Café, Picnic area, Shop, Children's parties, Play area
Venue Type:	Gardens
Dates & Times:	Open daily from Thu 29 April to Sun 31 October 2010, 10am to 5pm (6pm from 26 June to 31 August)

Contact details

Business Name:Butterfly World Project Ltd
Address:Miriam Lane, Off Noke Lane
Town:St Albans
County:Herts
Postcode:AL2 3NY
Telephone:01727 869203
Email:info@butterfly-world.org
Web:www.butterflyworldproject.com
Map: View Map

Recent reviews

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Flutter by some time

If only I'd spotted the 'kids go free' voucher before visiting!!! :-) Actually it was still worth the money. We had a great afternoon. The children were amazed at all the butterflies in the butterfly house and fascinated by the caterpillars and cocoons in the maternity house. The kids play area will open in the next couple of weeks. It's sensibly placed next to the cafe so mum's and dad's can relax with a coffee while the children exhaust themselves! In addition to all the family oriented stuff, it was nice to take a look around the designer gardens. Some of them were really fantastic - I meet even try to steal one or two ideas for my own garden! I look forward to seeing how it develops over the next year or so. When it's fully open it might even compete with Willows for the position of must-have-annual-membership prize! [Jul 10]

by Anspan

Visionary

As part of the outside broadcast team of Radio Verulam providing the entertainment on an open day - I was very impressed with the vision of what has been created. The very small Butterfly area was magical and I didn't expect to see such large and beautiful butterflys. It was a pure delight to have them land on me - and even more seeing the childrens faces light up. The cafe is well designed and the food very good also. The staff were most helpful too. I look forward to returning when the dome has been completed. You can see a photo of the 'butterfly competition' on our website www.radioverulam.com under the blogs. We look forward to returning again. Ashlyn Kaye - Radio Verulam [Jun 10]

by ashlyn

Beautiful Butterflies!

I kept seeing the brown tourist butterfly signs and wondered what it was all about. Then I read an interesting newspaper article about Butterfly World. I also spotted a 'Kids Go Free' voucher, so one afternoon during half-term holidays, we decided to visit. It's a beautiful setting and we enjoyed strolling around in the sunshine. We particularly liked the exotic butterfly house and the different gardens. There is still a lot of work to do and I'm sure it will be even better when the Biome is finished next year. Excellent value at £6 for the whole family with the 'Kids Go Free' voucher. [Jun 10]

by Marcia

great 1/2 day out

Last day on the family roadshow ended with an afternoon at butterfly world. Top afternoon but will be truly great when the final phase has been completed with the construction of the glass biome. Inspiring with bags of imagination and quirk thrown into the mix and thats ontop of the butterfly house. Great 1/2 day and not expensive. [May 10]

by andrei

Great day out

Went with the kids to Butterfly World last weekend and was really impressed with how it's coming on. It's much cheaper than last year and there's more to do for all the family. The kids really loved the butterfly house and the fact that the butterflies landed all over them. The food in the cafe was good too. Looking forward to getting back there next year to check out the full size butterfly house. [May 10]

by always about!

Good in parts only

It was really windy when we went, so be prepared! To be honest, work in progress is kind. Most of the place was just unfinished - bull dowzers, builders sheds, bare earth - a real mess. The show gardens were really great, but the butterfly house was tiny. Food was ok - watch out for wasps - toilets fine. Shop and plant area ok. Be careful as you leave - horrible exit and you have to drive straight into fast moving traffic. [Jan 2010]

by saintalbansmum

a butterfly spectacle

We went on a Sunday morning and took advantage of the two for one offer*. It helped that the weather was good because you are mainly outside. For us the butterfly house itself was worth the visit and I would go back to see that. However I don't think you need more than a couple of hours to go round leisurely at the moment because it is still a work in progress site but it shows promise and it is a good chance to see some of the gardens whilst they are still quite peaceful. Toilets are clean and plentiful. Catering looks good quality rather than cheap and cheerful but there is a picnic area if your budget won't stretch. Coffee queues could be a problem but I am sure these are teething problems to iron out. I would recommend it and will go again - next time I will force my children to come too!! * would be over priced for single entry at the moment in my view so the 2 for 1 policy rather than half price entry is a bit of a shame. [Jul 09]

by roving reporter

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