Neil Gale - Founder

Neil Gale set up the Trust in 2000 and oversaw the design and the construction of the butterfly house.

From an early age, he grew exotic plants as a hobby. After school, this interest took him to Asia where he spent ten months travelling around the wilderness areas of Borneo and Sumatera. It was here that the bird-sized swallowtails captured his interest in butterflies. He went on to visit many of the rain forest areas such as South America, West Africa and India. His field research meant that he could stay for months on end in the forests of Ecuador. After coming back from seven years' abroad, he worked briefly at the Countryside Council for Wales while he worked on the establishment of the butterfly house. Neil read botany at Oxford and has a Phd in rain forest ecology.

Rhian Thomas

Rhian started work at the Butterfly House in 2007 helping with the daily running of the Centre.

She oversees the administration of the Centre and the gift shop as well as helping with the educational tours. She is trained as a teacher and has spent seven years teaching English in Greece. Rhian speaks Welsh as a first language.

Saoirse joined the butterfly team in 2011. She is a conservation biologist having completed a degree in St. Andrews University. She had the privilege of being bought up on the Bardsey island bird observatory. Before joining us she worked in tropical bird conservation in the Mauritius islands. Saoirse is interested in all wildlife and is an accomplished nature artist.