During October half term, from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm will be celebrating the amazing migration story of the Monarch Butterfly, and why they are associated with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).

The Monarch Butterfly is recognised for its bright orange wings, with black and white markings. Each year, millions migrate up to 3,000 miles from Canada & the USA to the forests of central Mexico. This incredible long-distance journey is one of nature’s greatest wonders, as the butterflies return to the same wintering sites generation after generation. They arrive like clockwork in Mexico around early November, which coincides with the Día de Muertos celebrations!

Many indigenous communities believe that these butterflies represent the souls of deceased loved ones returning to the earth to visit. The timing of their arrival, along with their delicate beauty, has made them a powerful symbol of the spiritual connection between the living and the dead in this tradition. Day of the Dead combines the ancient custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico in the early 1500s. The holiday, which is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 & 2, is like a family reunion, except dead ancestors are the guests of honour.

The latest arrival in Rainforest Realm is a stunning emerald, green Tree Python, Morelia viridis, which originates from parts of New Guinea, Indonesia and northern Australia. Adults can grow up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) long and feature a striking, triangular body shape. They often have small white or yellow dorsal markings. They are nocturnal ambush predators and spend their days resting in a signature pose, coiled tightly in a saddle shape over a branch with their head tucked in the middle.

Daily demonstrations of the Monarch Butterfly’s lifecycle and migration, and Meet the Minibeasts, will take place with the team of friendly experts at 11:30am in the Discovery Zone. Visitors can also join in the fun with the Monarch Migration Trail in the outdoor gardens, following the trail for the chance to win return tickets to the Butterfly Farm. Families can also get creative by making their own colourful Papel Picado decoration, a traditional Mexican paper craft, to take home or add to the colourful displays in the Discovery Zone.

To see hundreds of spectacular butterflies, insects, reptiles, and spiders visit the Butterfly Farm from 10am to 5:30pm, last entry 5pm. Open every day of the week except Christmas Day.  For more information, please visit the website at www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or telephone on 01789 299288.