My husband and I, along with two friends, have just returned from a few days staying in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The weather was amazing for this time of the year – no rain, and sunshine each day. We travelled there by train and catamaran and used the buses each day (with our OAP passes).
We had read that it was the final week of the season that Butterfly World was open so caught a bus there one morning, not sure if the men would come in or not, but knowing there was a cafe they could sit in. The friendly chap on reception said that as it was their last week open the entrance was just £1 instead of the usual £8 for seniors. Also all the gifts and souvenirs in their shop was half price too. Even the adjoining cafe was serving BOGOF hot drinks so we went and enjoyed those first. Then all four of us paid our £1 and entered the attraction.
It was amazing to see the hundreds of colourful butterflies flying among the bushes and flowers. They were so beautiful and the more we stood still and looked around, the more we noticed, several so well camouflaged against the leaves that we weren’t sure if they were real or not – they were! We walked along the little pathways and then went through into an Italian Garden.
This, even at this time of the year, was planted with brightly coloured plants as well as classical statues and a facade of a Roman temple. In the central pond was a fountain and some enormous fish. From here we went into the Japanese Gardens, full of oriental plants, statues, a little bridge and pagodas. Here again was a pond full of large Koi carp, which some people had just watched being fed.
On our way back through the gardens we stopped to read information about the life cycle of the butterflies and one of the ladies working there was only too happy to explain about them to us. She said how the beautiful madagascar butterfly we had noticed doesn’t have a mouth and only lives for two weeks.
It was all fascinating and we were so glad we’d visited.. There was a large garden centre next door but we didn’t spend time there as wanted to catch a bus and carry on exploring the island.
