Williamson Park Lancaster - Butterflies, Birds and Brassmonkeys

We found ourselves in Lancaster yesterday, on an errand. After we'd done our duty, it was decided we should follow the very tempting brown tourist signs directing us to the Butterfly House. It is actually part of Williamson Park, home to the enormous Ashton Memorial, familar to M6 travellers as "that big dome thing".



There was a wedding taking place inside the Memorial, and we spotted at least one kilt.

The park itself was nice enough, with a slightly municipal feel to it (perhaps we have been spoilt by visiting National Trust properties). There is completely free access to the park, sited on top of a hill, you can see for miles over Morecambe Bay to the fells of the Southern Lakes. Its location also made it very, very windy!

After paying our entrance fee (about £4 each) we ventured into the Butterfly House, and immediately appreciated that the calm tropical climate we found was a perfect antidote to the weather outside...



and after glasses and lenses acclimatised and demisted, we took some pics of the inhabitants.



Wonderful transparent wings:









Feeding on bananas:




On the bottom of the cast iron spiral staircase:



close-up:







After we'd had enough of the steam-room, it was time to see the free-flying birds and other creatures on display outside.



When the hail started again, it was time to sample to carrot soup, then head back through the park.

This stone seat is cute but has seen better days:







There was some evidence of someone sleeping inside the "summer house", which of course is currently a winter house and likely to be extremely uncomfortable. What a contrast to the comfort of the butterflies only a few hundred yards away!