Museum celebrates one year of Dippy the dinosaur

Dippy the Dinosaur has been in Coventry for a year this February

A museum is marking one year of a famous dinosaur's residency in Coventry.

Dippy the Dinosaur, a replica Diplodocus skeleton, is at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum on loan from the Natural History Museum in London.

Dippy arrived in 36 packing cases and, once assembled, the 292-bone structure is 26m (85ft) long and more than four metres (13ft) tall.

Museum bosses said he had become a firm favourite, with visitor numbers almost double those before his arrival.

'Birthday bash'

To mark the one-year anniversary, the venue is planning a “Big Dippy Birthday Bash” with activities and educational events throughout the day on Wednesday.

The museum will also be hosting storytelling sessions as well as fossil handling.

In addition, scientists from the University of Warwick will talk about the study of dinosaur bones.

Lisa Ford, from the museum, said: “We really wanted to go all out and celebrate by holding an open day with lots of free activities where people could really sink their teeth into learning about Dippy while having plenty of fun.”

Future events include the chance to sleep under the dinosaur, at an after hours “Doze Under Dippy” event.