A SPECTACULAR butterfly house takes over the front lawn of the Natural History Museum this

Easter giving families a chance to see hundreds of butterflies which have never been seen in the UK before.

This is a must for all the family who will have a chance to visit their varied environments, moving from continent to continent, collecting passport stamps and learning how butterflies live in different parts of the world.

One highlight is being able to peer into the hatchery room for a close-up look at the butterfly life cycle and see tropical butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.

Outside the main butterfly house will be a garden devoted to some of the 58 butterfly species that live in the UK and offering many useful tips for attracting these butterflies to visitors' own gardens.

Butterfly Explorers features interactive activities throughout and an outdoor play area for young children.

While the exhibition can be enjoyed by all ages, it is particularly suitable for families with children aged five to 11.

what? Butterfly Explorers exhibition where? Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD when? April 8 to September 26, Monday-Sunday, 10am-5.50pm, last admission 5.15pm cost? Museum free. Exhibition adult £6, child and pensioner £4, family £17 see: www.nhm.ac.uk

When? It's tonight!

THE hilarious self-styled German Comedy Ambassador, Henning Wehn headlines the Drayton tonight (Friday).

Not surprisingly his patter includes poking fun at the English stereotype of Germans as humourless Nazis, obsessed with efficiency. A large part of his routine is to analyse and explain his punchlines and jokes in the smallest details, always good for a laugh. He is a regular guest on Channel 4's FAQ U and has appeared on Radio 5s show, Fighting Talk and Radio 4s The Unbelievable Truth. He also appears in Germany on a comedy programme with local radio station Antenne Munster.

what? Comedian Henning Wehn where? The Drayton Court Hotel, 2 The Avenue, Ealing, W13 8PH when? Tonight, April 2 at 9pm cost? £9 see: www.wegottickets.com

Perfect the pitch

AN EXCITING new exhibition at the Watermans is one you can perform in yourself.

Created by musical artist, Marcus Lyall, who has created effects for U2, The Chemical Brothers, The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, it features a virtual choir who will accompany you as you play the keyboard. He was inspired to do this after filming 25 people individually in a recording studio.

He said: "I played them each note in the classical human vocal range, and asked them to sing it for four seconds. This was surprisingly difficult, even for more experienced singers. Few people could sing in tune, or cover anything like the vocal range I asked for. But the attempts were valiant, and the results were varied and unique."

what? Pitch Control where? Watermans, 40 High Street Brentford TW8 0DS when? Until April 18 cost? Free see: www.watermans.org.uk

Make your own forest at Kew this Easter

A NEW tree-themed outdoor play area opens this Easter at Kew where youngsters can climb ladders, race across wobbly ropes and fly down zip wires.

There are also swings, scramble nets and a mountaineering ramp at Treehouse Towers for three to 11-year-olds.

If you fancy something a little more sedate pop along to events for the whole family over Easter, including a puppet show telling the story of the life of a tree, bringing each stage vividly to life, and an art installation at the Nash Conservatory.

With the help of Creatmosphere, you can create a symbolic forest using a variety of materials and learn about the role of trees in biodiversity at the same time.

what? Treehouse Towers outdoor play area and Easter activities for the family where? Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3AB when? from April 2-18, opens at 9.30am every day cost? £13, conc. £11, children free see: www.kewgardens.org

Whatever tickles your Fancy

IF YOU fancy throwing caution to the wind here's an event to test your creative skills and help raise some money for charity at the same time.

To coincide with National Fancy Dress Day, visitors are invited to shed their every day life by dressing up out of character.

As well as winning £250 for the most creative and imaginative outfit, there is also a midnight Easter Egg hunt with vouchers and other prizes tucked inside eggs dotted around the 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire.

The event is run by Fancy, who will also be donating a portion of the ticket sales to their charity partners, Teenage Cancer Trust and the humanitarian organisation, Right To Play.

If you're still raring to go, there is also the Silent Disco where guests will be given headphones playing two different channels of music, giving everyone the choice of either channel.

what? Fancy's National Dressing Up Day with a midnight Easter Egg Hunt where? O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green,W12 8TT when? Tomorrow (Saturday), April 3, 9.30pm-3am cost? £2.50 if you sign up to Fancy on the website and become a member, otherwise £12.50 in advance see: www.fancyclub.co.uk