Ugly Bug Tea Party

Petworth House was overrun by creepy crawlies!

A few weeks ago the conservation team ran an Ugly Bug Tea Party throughout the house and courtyard, which has saw hundreds of new species of bugs made by some very creative minds! Outside in the courtyard, our younger visitors were transformed into technicolour beetles and moths.

 

We created an Ugly Bug Tea Party set so that our younger visitors could see the type of damage that silverfish, woolly bears and beetles can do given half the chance. They also had the opportunity to follow a trail round the house to see how the bugs have damaged Petworth’s collection in the past.

The bugs were having their very own tea party!

Looking at the old woodworm damage to the carvings in the Carved Room.

Live bugs were projected onto a big screen in the Marble Hall and visitors were invited to talk to the conservation team about the damage the pests generate, and what we do to limit this damage.

We certainly enjoyed the week, and by the number of 'bugs' running around the house, we hope that our visitors have too. We are certainly going to miss wearing our giant bug outfits!

Sarah

Conservation Assistant