CHILDREN enjoyed an activity day at Studley Grange last week, where animals and butterflies took their mind off the wet weather which hung around.

More than 2,000 people visited the Hay Lane facility in Wroughton during the first week of August.

There has been an increased level of investment in the facility this year, with a renewed zoo licence also being passed through at the organisation recently.

As well as mixing with the wildlife of the park, children were invited into the craft village at Studley Grange, where the on-site craftsmen and women offer a range of handcrafted gifts.

There are workshops in place for making beads, bespoke lampshades, card making, dolls, blinds, cup cakes, hand-made sweets, model railways, nail art and scrapbooking.

In addition to the Butterfly World, open to children on the day, they were also encouraged to see the otters, meerkats, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, rabbits and guinea pigs at the outdoor centre.

Studley allows the children to come in and feed the animals at certain times of the day too.

The butterfly farm is at the centre of a complex which includes art and handicraft units, ceramic and stained glass workshops, painting and photographic studios, together with a garden centre.

At Butterfly World, one of the largest in Britain, visitors can see up to 30 species of butterfly – with hundreds flying around at any one time – in the 600sq metre hot house.

Moe than 200 varieties of tropical plant add colour and exotica to the atmosphere in the attractively laid out centre, with its little streams and rustic bridges, waterfalls and fishponds.