The Living Rainforest in Newbury is located in two adjoining greenhouses and has the appeal of giving you some sense of being outdoors without actually having to brave the elements. 

The attraction combines rainforest plants with creatures, some of which are free roaming such as the colourful birds.

There were marmosets and Goldei’s monkeys, large tortoises, toucans, lizards, agoutis, finches, crocodiles, fishes, spiders, snakes, cockroaches, millipedes, scorpions, beetles, ducks and butterflies.  At this time of year, there were no free flying butterflies, but rather a glass display of cocoons.  While we were there, one emerged from its cocoon and we watched as it pumped up his wings and became a beautiful Paper Butterfly. 

Some of the cocoons and the snake matched our green! The butterfly in the middle had just emerged and was pumping up its wings

The plant variety was excellent and we saw all manner of giant leafed specimens and some wonderful and intriguing flowers.  The colours were beautiful – who would have thought there could be so many shades of green and so many ways for plants and trees to continue their species. 

The large pond in the centre of the exhibit was covered with giant lily pads and full of colourful guppies, with ducks floating on the water.  Very enjoyable.

The pond was teaming with Guppies - don't quite know if the Teals were feeding off the Guppies or the Guppies were being fed by the food the Teals were knocking into the water.

However, I felt that some of the animal enclosures were a little unimaginative – and maybe a tad too small for some of the animals …….. 

……. and the café was a bit uninviting, although they did allow us to pre-order a hot lunch….. 

…… and it is rather a long way to go when you only need an hour or so to cover everything. It would be best to go as a stop-off en-route to the north (or south, if you are coming down the country).