University of Cambridge/Museum of Zoology

Butterfly Time Machine Family Day

Thu 4 August 2022

Museum of Zoology

Meet our butterfly explorers past and present and find out more about these amazing animals with trails, hands-on activities and makes in the Museum.

Did you know that museum collections can act as time machines, showing us what wildlife was like in the past and helping us to protect it today. Join us and our brilliant actors from Emergency Exit Arts as we explore butterflies past and present with fun family-friendly activities.

At the Museum of Zoology we have a very special record of local wildlife and weather in the notebooks of Leonard Jenyns - a contemporary and friend of Charles Darwin. Jenyns is perhaps best known for turning down the opportunity to join the Voyage of the Beagle, resulting in Darwin taking his place. As curate in Swaffham Bulbeck near Cambridge, Jenyns kept meticulous notes about the wildlife he saw.

Delve into the past with us as we look at the butterflies he would have seen and compare them with what we know of today’s butterflies.

This is a drop-in event all day on Thursday 4th August. The actors from Emergency Exit Arts will be joining us around 11.30am until 4pm.

Cost: FREE