Butterfly World Ltd

History of Butterfly World

Our founder Gareth Welsh has always had a keen interest in butterflies and as a child he used to breed butterflies and moths, his interest soon developed into more of a passion over the years.

In 1978 as an adult and living in Malawi, Central Africa, he used to collect butterflies with his children. In order to obtain perfect specimens, he had to find the right host plants to breed them, and it was exciting as a family to release the hundreds of butterflies that had been bred into the wild.

After travelling the tropics for over 50 years collecting host plants and breeding these tropical jewels of the jungle, it was his passion that inspired Gareth to build a butterfly house in the UK and Butterfly World was built in 1992.

Today as part of our conservation policy, Butterfly World is home to one of the largest collections of butterfly host plants in Europe. Gareth still advises on the construction of butterfly houses and breeding techniques throughout the world.

Our Butterfly House

Check out our range of butterflies, from the dazzling Blue Morpho to the transparent Glasswing. At Butterfly World, you'll learn all about their colourful lives and fascinating behaviours.

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Solomon Islands

In partnership with the Solomon Islands government, we have worked on butterfly farming projects that aid conservation and help local communities. Schools and communities on the islands of Santa Isabel, Malaita, and Guadalcanal are involved in producing butterfly pupae, which supports education and local development.

Our Host Plants

As part of our conservation policy Butterfly World has been collecting Host Plants of butterflies from around the world for over thirty years. We are now home to the largest collection of Host Plants' in the world and are capable of breeding some of the rarest butterflies. Our efforts help protect butterfly populations and support global biodiversity.

Meet the Meerkats and Friends

After exploring the butterflies, come and say hello to our playful meerkats! You’ll also meet reptiles, snakes, spiders, and more. It’s a great way to discover new animals and learn about their fascinating lives!

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Our Founder: Gareth Welsh

Gareth Welsh’s love for butterflies began as a child and grew into a lifelong passion. After spending years breeding butterflies in Malawi, studying their delicate beauty up close, Gareth’s dream finally came true with the opening of Butterfly World in 1992.

His adventures across the tropical regions—collecting rare plants, observing butterflies in their natural habitats, and perfecting breeding techniques—helped shape Butterfly World into the vibrant haven it is today.