CHILDREN of all ages are invited to observe leafcutter ants at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis this half-term.

Based in Milnthorpe, on the A6, the zoo has always prided itself on its education, conservation and being a truly hands-on visitor experience. 

Jo Marsden, Oasis director, said: “The ants are one of our most popular attractions.  It’s incredible when you compare them in size to our magnificent snow leopards, but visitors stand, transfixed for hours, simply watching the ants running along the ropes over their heads.”

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Every day across half term, visitors will be able to help conduct experiments to measure the ants’ reactions to different kinds of food on offer. 

Participants will be asked to observe and record how quickly the ants discover a new 'food' and cut a piece off to carry back to the nest.

Everyone competes to time their own ‘ant race’ and record the information. 

Young scientists could also spot whether the new 'food' meets with approval by the composters and do they actively search it out? 

Or how long does it take for the message to get through to avoid food that doesn’t get the ant-stamp of approval? 

It’s a great opportunity for visitors to get more involved observing detailed behaviours and there’s lots of other ways to get up close across the zoo too, including regular reptile-handling, and animal-feeding encounters.

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is open 7 days a week, from 10am-5pm.

The onsite 'Wild Cafe' is open every day from 10am-4pm.

No zoo entry is required to visit the cafe.

Visit www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk for more information.