Interactive Aardman ‘Bug Hunt’ launches at new insect garden in London

An interactive Lloyd of the Flies augmented reality trail will entice families, youngsters and insect enthusiasts to the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden at Stratford Cross in East London as it opens to the public this week.

Help Lloyd, the first ever non-human Royal Entomological Society Ambassador, find his friends and bring them all back to the ‘luxury bug hotel’ in the garden, learning fun facts about the tiny but mighty creatures that support all life on Earth.

Lloyd of the Flies is Aardman’s CGI comedy series for children and its hero, the housefly Lloyd, and his invertebrate friends will lead the ‘Bug Hunt’ family trail experience at Stratford Cross. Visitors can use our augmented reality ‘Bug Hunt’ app to follow a route around the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden and some of the other insect-rich green spaces at Stratford Cross, as they learn fascinating facts about insects and see the world through the eyes of a fly.

Located at Stratford Cross,  the UK’s exciting new cultural quarter on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden was created by leading garden designer Tom Massey for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, thanks to funding from grant-making charity Project Giving Back. The garden has now been rebuilt as a permanent feature at Stratford Cross, adding to the vibrant mix of attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment available to residents and visitors.

Simon Ward, CEO at the Royal Entomological Society, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lloyd as our first insect ambassador and to partner with Aardman and Lendlease to launch the interactive ‘Bug Hunt’ at Stratford Cross. Our huge thanks go to Lendlease, SHIFT and Project Giving Back for helping bring the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden to East London as a permanent urban haven for insects and insect science. We are passionate about inspiring the next generation of insect scientists – whose fascination with insects often starts in childhood – so Lloyd is ideally placed to help us encourage children and their families to see the world through the eyes of an insect and appreciate their vital role in the health of humans and the planet.”

Guy Thomas, Head of Retail & Place Assets, Lendlease, said: “Sustainability, innovation, and collaboration run through everything we do at Stratford Cross. Nestled just a stone’s throw from some of the world’s most famous cultural and academic institutions at the East Bank, including UCL and the V&A, the new Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden will embody all these values. It will not only promote biodiversity and local wildlife in Stratford but be a shared resource for education and research for all ages. We are excited to kick off the garden’s life in Stratford with the arrival of the Lloyd of the Flies ‘Bug Hunt’ and to engage residents and visitors in the fascinating world of insects this summer.”

Matthew Walker from Aardman, creator and director of Lloyd of the Flies comments: “We created Lloyd of the Flies to bring the fascinating world of insects to children in a fun and accessible way so the partnership with the Royal Entomological Society and the team at Lendlease is a perfect way to celebrate Lloyd’s appeal. Having spoken to Lloyd himself ahead of the big Bug Hunt launch at Stratford Cross, I can confirm that he can’t wait to explore the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden for himself and introduce his friends to the fantastic habitats and sources of food for insects that it offers!”

Tom Massey, designer of the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden, said: “The vast majority of the UK’s population live in urban areas, so we must consider brownfield sites as important for biodiversity as more rural locations. Stratford Cross is a fantastic example of how it’s possible to deliver a sustainable built environment that prioritises benefits for both people and nature. It is great to see the garden come to life in its permanent home as a platform for the Royal Entomological Society to raise awareness of insects and their importance in the global environment and to welcome families and young people to enjoy the garden this summer alongside Lloyd of the Flies!”