CARDIFF.- The sixth stop of Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure follows an extremely successful stay at The Great North Museum: Hancock, where 144,876 people came to see the Jurassic giant. The Museum as a whole also saw a 51% increase in visitor numbers on average when compared with the previous decade.

Dippy on Tour has been brought to the National Museum Cardiff and visitors across the UK by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation, and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill.

Director of the Natural History Museum London, Sir Michael Dixon, said, ‘It is with great excitement that we welcome Dippy to National Museum, Cardiff.’

‘Dippy has become an ambassador for the natural world, engaging audiences in conversations about our role in the future of the planet.’

‘Dippy’s mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists and citizens to explore, discover and protect the world around them so it’s fantastic that the National Museum Cardiff’s youth panel has had a central role in developing an exciting series of accompanying events to celebrate Dippy’s arrival.’

‘We wish National Museum Cardiff every success and hope that Dippy continues to impress visitors of all ages in Wales and beyond.’

Expert conservators have assembled the 292-bone, 21-metre-long skeleton cast in National Museum Cardiff’s main hall making sure Dippy looks his best for his Welsh audience.

David Anderson, Director General for Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said, ‘Dippy is here and it’s fantastic to welcome this iconic dinosaur to Wales. We know our visitors can’t wait to meet him and I know that the people of Wales will give him a warm, Welsh welcome.’

‘We’re thrilled to be the only venue in Wales to be hosting the iconic dinosaur and we hope that after seeing Dippy, visitors are inspired to explore, discover and protect the nature on their doorstep.’

‘Dippy sparks a vital conversation about the importance of caring for our natural world and it’s great to be making the connection with our own scientific collections here in the museum.’

Dippy has now been visited by 1.4 million people throughout the tour, an achievement which has been referred to as the “Dippy phenomenon” by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said:

‘We are delighted that Dippy is now ready to welcome visitors in Wales. Dippy’s mission to inspire people to explore the nature on their doorstep and think about their role in our world is more important than ever and we know he will receive a very warm reception at National Museum Cardiff.’

Throughout Dippy’s stay there will be a packed programme of events and an accompanying exhibition created by the Museum’s youth forum. This innovative exhibit features extinct creatures created using second hand clothes as a comment on the effect fast fashion and waste is having on our environment.

As well as being able to marvel at Dippy, visitors can also explore the natural history galleries and take in another dinosaur, Dracoraptor hanigani –discovered in Wales, just eight miles away from National Museum Cardiff.

Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is at National Museum Cardiff until 26 January 2020.