Bug-tastic events at Bristol Zoo Gardens this week

Visitors to Bristol Zoo will be given a fascinating insight into the world of insects this week as the Zoo celebrates National Insect Week.

The Zoo is hosting an insect macro photography exhibition in Bug World all this week, featuring photographs taken by two Somerset-based nature photographers, Robin Williams and John Bebbington.

Alongside the exhibition will be the winning images from the Zoo’s recent insect photography competition. The six best photographs were chosen from over 120 entries by the Zoo’s judging panel, made up of the Zoo’s invertebrate keeper, in-house artist and graphic designer, and will be on show in the Bug World gallery for the next year.

The overall winning photograph was taken by Mike Jones, of Stoke-on-Trent, for his detailed photo of a hoverfly on a dead flower.

Mike, who used to live in Cwmbran near Newport, said: “I used to visit Bristol Zoo regularly when I lived in Wales, and I enjoy photography as a hobby, so I was keen to enter the competition.”

He added: “I took the photo in a churchyard in Stoke-on-Trent. I saw the hoverfly and it seemed to be following me, so when it landed on a flower I took the opportunity to photograph it. I was pleased with the clarity of the picture and how well it came out. It’s the first time I’ve ever entered a competition so I was thrilled to find out I had won. I look forward to visiting the Zoo and seeing my photo on display.”

One of the judges, Su Lees, said: “Mike’s photo caught my eye because the angle of the photo offered an interesting perspective of the hoverfly and it drew you in to the picture and into the fly’s world. The insect also took on an almost alien-like quality which was emphasised by the dead plant, and the detail of the photograph was simply amazing.”

The other winning photographs can be seen in Bristol Zoo’s Bug World gallery, and were taken by: Bill Ault, Eric D’Costa, Grant Sullivan, Jeremy Webb and Agnieszka Dymek.

As well as the insect photography exhibition, visitors will also be able to see collections of a variety of ladybird species on display from Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives, on Wednesday (June 23), and over the weekend of June 26 and 27, visitors can take part in a search for wild ladybirds around the Zoo grounds.

Over the weekend of June 26 and 27 visitors will also be able to get up-close to leaf and stick insects when the Phasmid Study Group visits the Zoo to share fascinating facts about these unusual creatures.

For more information about National Insect Week, visit the website www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk.

To find out more about Bristol Zoo Gardens and what’s on over the coming weeks, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

Lucy Parkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, or email: lparkinson@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, email: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Notes to the Editor:

BristolZoo Gardens

• BristolZoo Gardensis an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
• Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
• To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
• The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• BristolZoo Gardenssupports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• BristolZoo Gardensis a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.