Petersham Group - BugWorld Experience

The UK’s first Insectarium opened in July 2009 following a £3.1m fit- out for the BugWorld Experience™ heralding a new generation of family orientated attractions, unique in giving visitors an insight into the world of insects and bugs through a highly interactive space within Liverpool’s famous Grade 1 Albert Dock. We were appointed by the concept originators and developers, RGI group, to manage and operate the attraction and, together, are working to locate further locations to roll out the brand, both in the UK and in continental Europe.

Our experience in designing, opening and managing attractions throughout Europe has provided us with the special knowledge required to turn an idea into reality. We recognise that in an attraction such as this the highest standards of animal welfare need to be maintained at all times. As with any animal - based attraction, the BugWorld Experience must conform to the Zoo Licensing Act (1981) which applies, irrespective of whether the animal is an elephant or an ant!

A number of endangered species are residents of the BugWorld Experience™ where the bug experts are committed to helping maintain and boost populations through conservation, education and carefully planned breeding programmes. Preying Mantis, Death Stalker Scorpions, Red Spotted Assassin Bugs, Giant Centipedes and the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula are there for all to see as is the critically endangered Partula Snail, extinct in the wild and now an important part of the conservation breeding programme.

This is a unique family visit - with a twist - as visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of our collection as well as play unique interactive games to learn about the invertebrates which not only make up more than 90% of the earth’s animal species but go back in time before the dinosaurs!

Visitors tour 6 habitat zones with brilliantly created settings by MASI, a joint venture between Academy Studios of San Francisco and the award winning MET Studios in London, hold creepy crawlies in the handling section, taste bugs in the sampling station in true ‘bush tucker’ style or purchase more tasty treats, books, games, toys and their very own bug kits, to take home.

Our young visitors are encouraged to collect information in their guidebooks, create bugs of their own for mouse mats and bedroom decoration and even compose their own bug melodies with the help of our electronic bug band – and the end results are posted to their own home computers.

To get the best out of the experience tours run every 10 minutes, starting with a breath taking film to arouse curiosity. When visitors leave they have a better understanding of how important bugs and insects are to our own well-being and, perhaps, with a few in their tummies!

‘BugWorld: don’t eat the exhibits‘ “A visit to The BugWorld Experience™ reveals some creepy – crawlies are easier to stomach…does my nine year old nephew want to hold it (the giant hissing cockroach)? We’ve been brave enough to stroke the colourful fruit beetles and let the stick insects wander over our hands (rather tickly really), but the thought of caressing this creepiest of crawlies leaves us hissing, not the cockroach.

BugWorld isn’t huge but it is very well done. Everywhere you go you see the world through an insect’s eyes, with ‘tour guides’ to tell you about them, plenty of hands-on exhibits and the encounter zone, where the brave can handle the insects.”

June Knight
The Times 4 July 2009

---

“Liverpool is now one of the leading cities in the UK for incoming tourists and for leisure visitors alike and the BugWorld Experience really adds some bite to the offer! In all seriousness, this is a must for all budding scientists, adventurers and travellers. Nowhere else in Britain could they get up close and personal to insects and bugs in a fun and educational way like this.”

Keith Thomas
Director, The Petersham Group