Today the Society of Biology will be at the opening of the Cheltenham Science Festival, manning a stand with hands on activities related to 'mini-beasts'.

Dr Penny Fletcher, public engagement and events manager, will be joined by volunteers at a stand in the Discover Zone. They will be speaking to school groups today, and return at the weekend when the Zone open to the public.

Penny said: "Visitors to the stand can play our bug identification game and make flies out of balloons. Our pet apple green stick insects will be there – at 15cm long and bright green, these grow to be impressive beasts!

"Last year hundreds of visitors came to speak to us, and we look forward to sharing our passion for creeply crawlies with many more people this week."