From us to you
We’re celebrating wild flowers, hungry caterpillars and an April Fool’s prank
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
Murmuration is an exhibition devoted to birds and the key role they play in our environment, as well as their symbolic significance for us through the ages. Artists and makers interpret our relationship with birds through drawings, paintings, sculpture and installations, as well as examining the complex issues around the role of taxidermy.
✱Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, until 23 June 2024; thebowesmuseum.org.uk
Creature comforts
It’s been a hectic time at Chessington World of Adventures, where the 1,000 resident birds and animals have all had a thorough health check. Kito the giraffe’s pedicure will keep her hooves in trim, while California sea lion Carla’s dental examination checked for ulcers or damage. Bubo the Mackinder’s eagle owl was weighed and measured, while Sulcata tortoise Belle relished a good scrub with soapy suds to help keep her skin and shell healthy.
Did you know?
The pandemic made many of us appreciate our families more than ever, and that’s reflected in a rise in the popularity of three-generation holidays, with grandparents joining the fun. An easyJet poll found 54% of families were planning a joint 3G getaway for 2024.
On this day in history
1 April 1856: An April Fool’s Day prankster sent out invitations with an official-looking red seal, asking select guests to witness the ‘Annual ceremony of washing the lions’ at the Tower of London. Although lions used to be kept at the Tower, they had long since been moved to Regent’s Park Zoo. But the invitation looked so authentic that no doubt visitors formed an orderly que
