Bugs Life 2025
A Wild Day at Beyond Limits
Each year at Beyond Limits, we host Bugs Life, a one-of-a-kind event that brings together our staff and the people we support for a day of hands-on fun, learning, and unforgettable animal encounters. In 2025, we took things up a notch with even more creatures, more laughter, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Held right here in our office, the event brought together staff and the people we support for a full day of animal encounters, laughter, learning, and hands-on fun. With creatures crawling, flying, and slithering their way through the day, it’s safe to say this wasn’t your average day in the office.
A Day Full of Animal Encounters
This year’s Bugs Life was once again hosted in partnership with Bugs Life Kids Parties and Events, who brought in a wide variety of exotic animals for everyone to meet. From tiny insects to large reptiles, there was something fascinating at every turn.
The animals weren’t just for looking at, we were encouraged to get involved! People had tarantulas on their faces, and chickens on their heads. There was even a snake that slithered through Rich’s ear hoop!
What We Learned
We all enjoyed getting hands-on with the wildlife, but we learned a lot about them too. The team from Bugs Life explained things in a simple, fun way that everyone could enjoy. Here are some of the creatures we spent time with, and a few fun facts about them.
🐍 Corn Snake
Corn snakes are gentle, non-venomous snakes. They come in beautiful colours and patterns and are known for being easy to handle. They’re great climbers and often curl around people’s arms or shoulders when held.
🕷 Tarantula
Tarantulas may look scary, but they’re actually very calm. They’re covered in tiny hairs that help them feel the world around them. Some of us even had them crawling on our faces, how’s that for going Beyond Limits!
🐸 African Bullfrog
These frogs are enormous compared to your average frog and have a deep croak to match! They can puff up when they feel threatened and are surprisingly strong. Despite their size, they were very fast to catch prey. We all got the chance to see this first-hand in a live feeding demonstration.
🐔 Chicken
Chickens aren’t just farm animals, they’re full of personality. We learned that they can recognise faces, form friendships, and even learn simple tricks. Ours were calm and curious and even took a rest on a couple of heads!
🦗 Praying Mantis
These clever insects are expert hunters. They can turn their heads from side to side (unusual for bugs!) and strike at super speeds with their strong front legs. They look delicate but are very good at surviving in the wild and blending in with their surroundings.
🦔 Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are shy and quiet, covered in spines for protection. We learned that they curl up into a ball when they’re scared, and their little snuffling noses help them find insects and worms to eat.
🦀 Hermit Crab
Hermit crabs don’t grow their own shells, they find empty ones and move in! As they grow, they need to find new, bigger shells to live in. Watching them move was like seeing a tiny house on legs!
🦎 Bearded Dragon
These reptiles love warmth and can often be seen basking under a heat lamp. They have spiky-looking “beards” under their chins that puff out when they’re excited or nervous. They were very friendly and loved being stroked.
🦎 Crested Gecko
Crested geckos have sticky feet that help them climb and jump between surfaces. Their eyelashes make them look like tiny cartoon characters, and they feel soft and bumpy to the touch. They’re also very quick!
🦂 Emperor Scorpion
This scorpion looks fierce but is surprisingly gentle. It uses its pincers to grab and hold things, but its sting is mild, like a bee sting. We were able to hold it and watch how it moved slowly and carefully across our hands.
Why Bugs Life Matters
Events like this are more than just fun days out, they’re part of what makes Beyond Limits special. They bring people together, encourage curiosity, and create moments of joy and wonder. For the people we support, it’s a chance to experience new things in a safe, familiar environment. For staff, it’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the community we’ve built.
Behind the Scenes
Of course, an event like this doesn’t happen by itself. A huge thanks goes to Martin, one of our very own team members, who takes the lead on organising Bugs Life year after year. Martin not only helps run the day, but also brings in some of his own animals to share. His passion, knowledge, and dedication are what truly bring the event to life.
Thanks to all of the team at Beyond Limits who helped put this together, and to everyone who attended, you all made the day a very special one.
And to Bugs Life Kids Parties and Events, we owe a massive thank you for sharing your animals and your expertise with us once again. You helped make Bugs Life 2025 a truly unforgettable experience.
Until Next Year…
As the animals packed up and the office returned to normal (well, almost), we were left with memories, smiles, and a few new facts to share. Bugs Life 2025 reminded us all of the joy of discovery, connection, and how amazing it is to step outside the ordinary and into something wild.
We’re already looking forward to Bugs Life 2026. Until then, thank you to everyone who joined in!
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