Edinburgh locals have shared their devastation at the news that the capital's Butterfly and Insect World will close permanently after almost 40 years.
SNP MP for Midlothian, Owen Thomson, has promised locals that 'he will do all he can' to save the world's longest running indoor butterfly house after writing to bosses of the site.
Today Edinburgh Live readers have been sharing their memories of the iconic tourist attraction, with many describing a visit to the centre a 'rite of passage' for kids of the capital.
One wrote: "It's a fantastic place, we will miss it. I remember going as a kid, a butterfly landed on my brother (I guess it liked the postman pat jumper he was wearing). I took all my kids."
Another added: "I am so saddened to hear that Butterfly world is closing down it is one of our favourite places to visit. We come from West Lothian and are happy to drive as it's a lovely few hours out of the house for us. Many of my foster children have also spent days out here with our family."
One reader reminded us all the that Edinburgh's Butterfly and Insect World is definitely not just for kids: "I absolutely loved this place as a child and jumped at the chance to go as a ‘helper’ when my youngest brother was in primary school. I took a days holiday from work and think I was more excited than the children were."
Some had close run ins - "Once my daughter put her hand in the piranha fish before it got a grate over it" - while others even gave insects to the centre - "my uncle donated a whole brood of baby scorpions when Igor (assumed to be male) gave birth to them in the late 80s."
For us, reader Becky Hume summed it up best: "Went when we were wee both with nursery and school and our parents! Still went a few times as adults too. It's an experience you can't get anywhere else nearby, it's part of Edinburgh and the surrounds, will be a real loss."
Creatures at the site are set to be rehomed in the coming months but Dobbies have said that there are no 'immediate' plans for the venue.
