Romance is in the air at Stratford Butterfly Farm

The Glasswing Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm.

As the half term holiday (14 – 22 February) falls over Valentine’s weekend, Stratford Butterfly Farm is inviting families to enjoy the magical experience of wandering through the tropical rainforest filled with colourful butterflies. With fish-filled pools, waterfalls and lush plants and blooms, the popular family attraction is the perfect place to share a moment of wonder. Being one of the most romantic settings in the region, many have made the Butterfly Farm the place to propose as well.

However, it’s not just humans which can be romantic. As the days start to get longer the butterflies are also feeling amorous and starting to mate once again. Like many other species, some of the butterflies practice a courtship routine before mating to discover the suitability of the potential mate. The male can often be seen doing an aerial dance around the female butterfly to waft pheromones towards its chosen mate!

The Butterfly Farm also has a limited number of complimentary marble hearts for visitors to either keep or give to a loved one. In return the Farm asks that visitors pledge their love to the environment by writing a Valentine’s promise to protect nature. Pledges to do something positive to help protect the environment can be written and hung in the Discovery Zone.

Over the Valentines weekend, the Leaf-Cutter Ants in Minibeast Metropolis will be treated to a feast of edible hearts which they will carry back to their colony along the overhead ropework. The Ants then use the hearts, which as fertiliser, will grow the fungus and feed the colony of Ants.

Leafcutter ants. Photo courtesy of the Stratford Butterfly Farm.

Discover Rainforest Realm, featuring the magnificent spectacled Caiman, Minibeast Metropolis with its amazing leafcutter ant colony, and enjoy daily Meet the Mini-Beast, Butterfly Lifecycle, and Pupae demonstrations with the informative and friendly Education Team in the Discovery Zone at 11:00am each day throughout half term.

Jane Kendrick, Marketing Manager at Stratford Butterfly Farm said, “This Valentine's Day treat your beloved with a romantic visit to Stratford Butterfly Farm. Find a tranquil place and take in the beautiful surroundings whilst hundreds of tropical butterflies’ dance around you! Our marble hearts are a lovely keepsake, and we want to encourage everyone that visits to make a pledge and do something positive for our environment.”

The Gift Shop has a beautiful range of nature inspired Fairtrade gifts and sells chilled drinks, snacks, confectionery and ice-creams. To see hundreds of spectacular butterflies, insects, reptiles, and spiders visit the Butterfly Farm from 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm. Open every day of the week except Christmas Day. For more information including purchasing gift vouchers, admission prices and group rates, please visit the website at www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or telephone on 01789 299288