Express & Star

Big bugs invade Merry Hill

Children can get face to face with giant bugs in Dudley this month.

Published
Chris Packham interacts with a 7ft lifelike model of a Stag Beetle at the launch of Big Bugs on Tour

Big Bugs on Tour has come to intu Merry Hill, in an attempt to reconnect people with nature and make them happier.

New research has revealed that being closer to nature makes you 67 per cent happier, but one in six kids have not seen a single bug in six months.

The initative by intu is backed by naturalist Chris Packham and features 12 supersized, indigenous bugs including the honeybee, ladybird, hornet, swallowtail butterfly and the nut weevil.

It will be on display at the shopping centre until the end of October, before going on tour across other intu shopping centres nationwide.

The campaign to reconnect kids and adults to nature comes as reports show children are now better at identifying Pokemon characters than British wildlife, despite a £10 million pledge from Government to encourage children to get closer to nature.

A huge hornet greets shoppers.

Robert Pickersgill, marketing manager at intu Merry Hill, said: “We know that a closer connection to nature makes people happier and Big bugs on tour is an opportunity to help educate adults and children on the importance of the bugs in their gardens and put a smile on their faces. Millions of people shop at intu centres every year so we hope bringing them face-to-face with these giant British bugs can make a real impact in how they interact and reconnect with nature, and ensure they are happier than when they arrived.”

Naturalist Chris Packham added: “We are facing a crisis in our countryside. I haven’t seen a single butterfly in my garden this year and more needs to be done to reconnect people with nature and start caring for and realising the importance of the bugs in your backyard. intu’s Big bugs on tour is shining a big magnifying glass on this and also putting bugs into school classrooms, and is a fantastic initiative to alert to the importance of nature in our lives.”