England's Attraction Butterfly World
Conservation, Instructional and Environmental UK Day Out
Although designed to be a fun and innovative day out the real reason for the new Butterfly World complex in the UK lies in the conservation of the rapidly declining butterfly population throughout the British Isles.
With the aim of becoming the world’s leading dedicated butterfly centre. A centre for conservation and scientific research yet with public access that aims to be self-sustaining make the Butterfly World Project a cause worthy of a visit and financial support.
The 27 acre site was secured in December 2003 and planning permission was granted in March 2004 for the restoration of Grade 3 agricultural land at Chiswell Green in St. Albans.
It took the project founder Clive Farrell seven years to find the right site, not only the natural position but a location with easy accessibility for the 250,000 annual visitors needed to make the project viable.
The site hopes to draw visitors from the Midlands, the East of England and Southern England, more than 15.5 million people live within one hour’s drive, that’s a 40 mile radius of Butterfly World.
Butterflies have been likened to the canaries in the coal mine, they are the first sign that our environment is in danger. During the 20th century, four varieties of butterfly and sixty species of moth species became extinct in the British Isles and seven out of every ten species went into sharp decline.
This is happening around the world as we destroy their natural habitats at a frightening pace.
Environmental Charities Supproted by Butterfly World
As a non-profit making exhibition Butterfly World will be able to donate its profits to their chosen causes, these include:
- Butterfly Conservation – Britain’s leading butterfly organisation
- Flora & Fauna International – FFI, the longest established international conservation body.
- Ain Forest Charities – Supporting the poor communities to develop businesses that do not threaten the rain forests, on which 60% of insect species depend.
- Scientific Research – supporting institutions and universities that run specific plant and invertebrate studies.
The Butterfly World site is laid out like a butterfly’s head, with the main wing design being the tropical dome an enormous transparent walk-through dome which is the biggest butterfly walk-through exhibition in the world.
It also includes show gardens, walk-ways and natural flower meadows it’s an environmentalists dream.Professor Dr David Bellamy is a patron of the project which is due to on 5th June this year.
Butterfly World Visitor information
Where:
Miriam Lane
Off Noke Lane
Chiswell Green
Herts AL2 3NY
How to Get to Butterfly World
Exit the M25 at junction 21a and head towards the A405 towards St Albans. Take the first left hand junction before the roundabout, Oke Lane.
Opening times: 5th June to 4th October 2009.9.30am – 6pm seven days a week
Ticket prices:Adults £12.50
Children (under 16) £5.00
Senior/Conc £9.50
Family (2 ad/2 ch) £32.00
Butterfly World website
Butterfly World
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Tropical Dome
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