Discover Cardiff’s Wonderful Wildlife Through The Eyes Of The Animal

• Virtual reality meets nature in the heart of Cardiff’s Bute Park
• Free for the whole family, from 15 July – 4 August
• Presented by RSPB Cymru and Migrations in partnership with the City of Cardiff Council

Follwing the success of TAPE in 2015, RSPB Cymru and Migrations, in partnership with the City of Cardiff Council, invite you to discover the world anew this summer, through a 360 degree virtual reality experience right in the heart of Cardiff’s Bute Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Taking place from 15 July – 4 August, In the Eyes of the Animal will immerse families and children in a digital world of woodland creatures, with the aim of inspiring them to look after Cardiff’s fantastic wildlife and get closer to nature. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Created by immersive experience studio, Marshmallow Laser Feast, the installation will allow visitors to keep their feet firmly on the woodland floor while wearing bespoke virtual reality headsets. They will be transported on a multi sensory journey, creeping through the forest and flying high in the trees – all through the eyes of an owl, a dragonfly and a frog native to Bute Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The experience doesn’t end there. Families can also enjoy some extra wild time with additional daily activities, all with a digital twist; from giant bug hunts for woodland creatures to unearthing animal tracks and trails through the trees. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carolyn Robertson, Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff Project Manager, said: “Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff is bringing thousands of young people in Cardiff closer to nature and we’re so excited to be part of In the Eyes of the Animal – a chance for people to experience nature from a totally new perspective and be immersed into woodland wildlife. It’s the perfect excuse to spend an unforgettable day in Bute Park and enjoy a magical moment in the trees.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Karine Decorne, Artistic Director of Migrations, said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Marshmallow Laser Feast to not only bring this extraordinary experience to Cardiff but to be introducing Wales to such an brilliant virtual reality experience. It has been wonderful to work with RSPB Cymru and the success of TAPE last year exceeded our expectations. We know that In the Eyes of the Animal will capture the imagination of visitors in an unforgettable way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is the first time In the Eyes of the Animal has come to Wales, allowing audiences to enter a world where nature and technology collide. The journey will also continue once the installation draws to close, as RSPB Cymru, Migrations and the City of Cardiff Council will work together to off-set the carbon footprint used within Bute Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Bob Derbyshire, said: “The Welsh capital is blessed with some brilliant parks and green spaces but it’s all too easy to live in a city without giving any real thought to the natural world that surrounds us. The Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff project is helping to put nature back into childhood and In the Eyes of the Animal will really enhance the sense of wonder that the natural world evokes, engaging families, art and nature lovers with the city’s wonderful wildlife.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​