Bugs are a big hit with families

Butterflies are proving a huge hit at the National Botanic Garden of Wales with a big increase in visitors at the Carmarthenshire attraction.

Bosses at the Garden are celebrating a four-figure year-on-year rise in visitors for July – which includes a massive 36% increase in family visitors.

New Garden director Huw Francis said: “Our summer marketing effort was aimed at boosting our family visits so, by any stretch, you have to say the campaign has been a success so far.”

There’s more to it than just the brand new Butterfly House, though, said Huw: “Plas Pilipala opened on July 1^st and has proved very popular but it is one part of an improving picture. Our busy family-focused calendar of events, our new play park – complete with zipline and trampoline – are also proving a big draw. We are getting rave reviews about our straw bale maze, the water zorbing and our family activities, too.”

He added: “We know that visitors generally and families in particular are staying longer because there’s so much more to do.”

In July this year, the Garden had 14,982 visitors – last year’s figure was 13,527. Family visits have increased from 2,214 in 2015 to 3,003 this year.

Head of Admissions, Lyndsey Harris-John said: “The July figure is a very good indication that we are getting the offer right. It is also very pleasing to see an increase in memberships and in member visits – this is a very important part of the overall picture.”

The Garden currently has a ‘boomerang’ ticket offer in place which offers anyone buying a full-price ticket the chance to re-visit FREE of charge for seven days after their initial visit – and as many times as they like in those seven days.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is open from 10am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm.

Admission to the Garden is £9.75 (including Gift Aid) for adults and £4.95 for children over five.  Entry is FREE for Garden members and parking is free for all.