Butterfly and Wildlife Park
Butterfly and Wildlife Park
Long Sutton, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 9LE
Tel: 01406 363833
About the Butterfly and Wildlife Park
Butterfly & Wildlife Park is at Long Sutton, near Spalding, in Lincolnshire, and was voted its top family attraction in 2003. That’s not surprising, as it’s not only a major conservation body, but a cracking family day out any time of the year.
Butterfly & Wildlife Park has 15 acres of attractions, from the Tropical House – one of Britain’s biggest – to its wonderful natural environs. The exotic is represented by hundreds of eye-catching butterflies and birds, such as Sugar Birds, which feed from stations positioned along a main walkway. It’s surrounded by foreign plants such as Clivia miniata, Lantana camara, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Heliotropium Indicum, Strellizia reginae, Brugmansia and the wall-climbing Bougainvillea. Other distinctly non-common or garden varieties include a panoply of reptiles, insects and a colony of Leaf-cutting Ants housed in the dedicated Ant Room. The Creepy Crawlie House adds to the wow factor with its red-kneed tarantula and scorpions, caiman, toads, frogs, corn and rat snakes, iguanas, lizards, water dragons, geckos, terrapins, millipedes, stick insects and snails – just the ticket if you want to give your fellow ticket holders the willies!
The family attraction has furrier varieties of critter too, from Raccoons and Pygmy Goats to Pot Bellied Pigs, llama, miniature pony, possums, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. For bird watchers, there’s the Butterfly & Wildlife Park’s Birds of Prey Flying Display, which takes place twice daily at noon and 3pm. Among the feathered delights to be seen are nine types of owl, two of falcon, buzzards, vultures and the American bald eagle. Other highlights of a family day out to the Butterfly & Wildlife Park are the impressive Asian water buffalo, Bavarian mini pigs and bird species including rheas.
The Butterfly & Wildlife Park’s Gardens are also part of the ticket on a family day out and they feature Solidago (goldenrod), Kniphofia, (red hot pokers), Buddleias, digitalis (foxgloves), Yarrow, Geraniums (cornsbill) and Lupins, which bring bees and a host of other insects and birds in search of sustenance. The herb garden boasts Borage Rosemary, sage, Bergamot (bee balm) and lavender, and a Wild Copse retains a feeling of the natural environment with its trees and bushes. The established fruit orchard yields an annual crop and has a trail to explore, while the Tea Garden offers refreshments in relaxed surroundings.
Young ticket holders to the Butterfly & Wildlife Park Gardens will enjoy its adventure playground and crazy golf pitch, while the extensive car parks have picnic areas, along with a licensed tea room and gift shop. The Adventure Play Area features a 40-metre aerial zip wire, tower slide, adventure trail, climbing net, climbing wall, swinging steps, a toddlers’ Giggleswick climbing frame and sandpit, and a driving circuit with cars, tractors and lorry.
Wheelchairs are available, affording a fun family day out for all, and numerous specialist tours can be pre-booked, as outlined by the Butterfly & Wildlife Park Gardens website.