Located on Nowhere Lane, Lenwade, just a few miles south of Reepham, the facility was opened last year by bug enthusiast and collector Martin French, who bought the five-acre location in 2020, just as the pandemic hit.
 
He then spent more than two years building the first phase of the park in the “middle of nowhere”, without any facilities.
 
The park currently features three large tropical invertebrate houses housing more than 200 species, invertebrate handling sessions, a gift shop, a café and a children’s play area with a large jumping pillow, undercover sandpit and swings and slides.
 
Already the largest invertebrate park in the UK, over the next 10 years Mr French wants to build the next five phases of the project, finances permitting, which will make the facility possibly the world’s largest specialist tropical invertebrate park.
 
Plans for the future include: walk-through butterfly experiences; a one-acre planted bee and butterfly garden surrounding the bee visitor centre; two wildlife ponds to attract dragonflies and damselflies; a dipping pond for children; a sculpture trail winding through the pine woodland; a "faerie" village for small children; and 13 more large visitor centres housing different orders of invertebrates.
 
The Bug Parc and gift shop is open from 10 am – 5 pm, seven days per week during school holidays and half term, and open on bank holidays. At all other times it is open from Wednesday–Sunday only; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
 
The Chrysalis Café is open Wednesday–Sunday from 8.30 am – 4 pm (also Monday and Tuesday during school holidays and on bank holidays; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
 
The Bug Parc won the New Business of the Year at this year’s Broadland & South Norfolk Business Awards.
 
The Bug Parc
Nowhere Lane, Lenwade, Norfolk NR9 5PD
Tel: 01603 855165
Email: info@thebugparc.com
www.thebugparc.com