Get up close to tropical wildlife in the Natural History Museum's Butterfly Jungle. Picture © Culture24
Following its success last year, The Natural History has again turned part of its front garden into the Butterfly Jungle - an exotic rainforest now teeming with an even greater number of flora and fauna for 2009.
This is an amazing opportunity for children (and grown-ups) to experience the rainforest for themselves and see up close a staggering variety of tropical butterflies from all over the world.
See the butterflies emerging from their cocoons to join the colourful Butterfly Jungle. Picture © Culture24
Butterflies are attracted by brightly coloured clothing and may land on you. The idea is to look and marvel rather than touch. Picture © Culture24
Come prepared for the tropical heat inside the Butterfly Jungle. Picture © Culture24
Charlie, the green iguana, is not the only added attraction in the Butterfly Jungle. There are scorpions, pythons, frogs, millipedes and tarantulas to discover along the jungle trail. They are safely behind glass but easy to spot. Picture © Natural History Museum
Alex Monro, botanist at the Natural History Museum, discusses the tarantulas with a young visitor. Picture © Culture24
The Butterfly Jungle has been very well designed for families. There are interactive activities on the way into the Jungle, as well as a themed playground - plenty to keep your "wild things" engaged and entertained. Picture © Culture24
