Plantasia facts for kids
Plantasia
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| Date opened | 1990 |
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| Location | Swansea, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°37′18.00″N 3°56′19.00″W / 51.6216667°N 3.9386111°W |
Plantasia is a fantastic indoor jungle located in Parc Tawe retail park in Swansea, Wales. It's a huge glasshouse that opened in 1990. Here, you can discover amazing plants and animals from different parts of the world, especially from hot, tropical places and dry, desert areas.
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Discover Plantasia's Amazing Worlds
Plantasia is home to a huge collection of living things. You can see a wide variety of tropical plants, along with fascinating insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and fish. It's a great place to learn about nature and see creatures you might not find anywhere else in Wales!
Journey Through Climate Zones
The giant glasshouse at Plantasia is split into two main climate zones. Each zone is carefully controlled to be just like a real habitat.
- The Tropical Rainforest zone is warm and humid. It feels just like walking through a real rainforest, complete with lush plants and a waterfall.
- The Arid Zone is much drier and hotter. This area is designed to feel like a desert, with plants and animals that thrive in dry conditions.
Incredible Plant Collection
Plantasia has about 5,000 plants! Some of these plants are even endangered in their natural homes, making Plantasia an important place for their survival. You can see many different types of plants, including:
- Tall palms and banana plants.
- Giant bamboo that reaches high into the glass roof.
- Plants that grow fruits, like Papaya.
- Many epiphytes, which are plants that grow on other plants, like beautiful bromeliads and colourful orchids.
- In the arid zone, you'll find a collection of spiky cacti and other succulent plants.
Meet the Animals
Besides the amazing plants, Plantasia is also home to many cool animals. They live among the plants, making the experience even more exciting. Some of the animals you might spot include:
- Playful meerkats.
- Colourful crested geckos.
- Fuzzy tarantulas (don't worry, they're in safe enclosures!).
- Fish like red-bellied piranha and large koi carp.
- Brightly coloured birds such as the green-winged macaw and white-cheeked turaco.
- Reptiles like bearded dragons and a huge Burmese python.
- Cute common marmosets.
- Sleek Asian leopard cats.
- Large Spectacled caimans.
- Critically endangered Kleinmann's tortoise.
New Features and Facilities
In 2019, Plantasia added many exciting new things for visitors. These included a brand new cafeteria where you can grab a snack and a gift shop to find souvenirs. Inside the glasshouse, new additions made the experience even better:
- A special waterfall lookout point.
- A fun rainforest hut to explore.
- A living bridge that's part of the plant environment.
- Interactive educational exhibits that help you learn more about the plants and animals.
There is also two hours of free parking available for visitors.
Plantasia on Screen
Did you know Plantasia has been a star on TV? It was used as a filming location for two episodes of the famous science fiction show Doctor Who. The episodes were "The Doctor's Daughter" and "Cold Blood". It's pretty cool to think that aliens and time travellers have walked through the same jungle as you!
