A DORSET wildlife enthusiast is involved in a project which could outstrip the phenomenal success of Cornwall's Eden Project.

Property developer and butterfly expert Clive Farrell, who lives near Sherborne, has won planning permission for a transparent biome 100 metres in diameter to house a quarter of a million butterflies.

The £15 million venture is to be built on 30 acres of land near St Albans in Hertfordshire next to another crowd-puller - The Gardens of the Rose run by the Royal National Rose Society.

The twin attractions are close to the M1 and the M25 and tourism chiefs believe together they will enjoy huge numbers of visitors.

Visitors can check out tropical creepy-crawlies including spiders and scorpions in underground caves before passing into a tropical rain forest with trees and waterfalls.

They will be able to saunter along tree-lined paths, passing near replicas of Mayan ruins from Central America.

Mr Farrell has formed The Butterfly World Charitable Trust to be headed by naturalist Sir David Bellamy. Dame Miriam Rothschild has agreed to be an advisor.

Supporters hope the attraction will be open by the end of 2005.