Animals and Nature

ANIMAL FARM ADVENTURE PARK
Red Rd, Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 2RW. Zone C. Open daily 10am-5.30pm (5pm in winter), 2010 admission TBC (was £7 adult/£6.50child/£6 senior/£26 family of 4 (slightly more for bigger families)/under-2s free). Ffi: 01278 751628, www.animal-farm.co.uk • Big unpretentious place which gets a lot of trade when this stretch of the north Somerset coast gets completely covered in caravans. There’s a big park with farm animals, a petting zoo, a vast outdoor adventure playground, nature trail, indoor play barn, some awesome slides and more. Also themed fundays.

AVON VALLEY ADVENTURE AND WILDLIFE PARK
Pixash Lane, Bath Rd, Keynsham BS31 1TP. Zone A. Signposted off Bristol-Bath A4, open daily to 31 Oct 10am-5.30pm, admission £7.50/£7 ages 2-16/under-2s free. Ffi: 0117 986 4929, www.avonvalleycountrypark.co.uk • River-based park with terrific play and climbing areas, assault course, fairly scary drop slide and lots of animals - donkeys, goats, llamas, cattle, sheep and more. There are boat trips and rowboat hire, mini quad-bikes, falconry displays and a miniature train ride. For families, particularly with primary school-age kids, this place is an excellent no-brainer that ought to burn off all that excess energy.

THE BIRD AND DEER PARK, PRINKNASH
Cranham, Glos GL4 8EX. Zone C. Open daily 10am-5pm (4pm winter), admission £6.50 adult/£5.50 senior/£4.50 child. Ffi: 01452 812727, www.thebirdpark.co.uk • An interesting little corner of the world that will easily consume the best part of a day. The bird and deer park has loads of peacocks, waterfowl and more exotic birds in tropical aviaries. Also a few deer and dead-cute miniature goats, area and a dinky Tudor-style Wendy house. This is only a small part of what was once a huge and powerful monastic estate until Henry VIII came along and broke it up. The wider estate, which is run separately from the bird and deer park, is once again a religious community, run by Benedictine monks, and you can wander around its extensive grounds and visit the abbey gift shop. For more on the Abbey see www.prinknashabbey.org.uk

BIRDLAND PARK AND GARDENS
Rissington Rd, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos GL54 2BN. Zone D. Open daily Apr-Oct 10am-6pm (Nov-Mar 10am-4pm), admission £6 adult/£5 senior/£3.90 age 4-14/£18 2 adults + 2 children. Ffi: 01451 820480, www.birdland.co.uk • One of the major attractions in Bourton, and been going since the 1950s. It was once a trout farm and poplar tree plantation but is now home to hundreds of birds, including flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, penguins (the only king penguins in England) and waterfowl. There are also aviaries with parrots, falcons, pheasants and lots more, plus indoor tropical and desert houses for creatures used to very hot climes. The penguins are fed at 2.30pm daily. Phone or check website for bird of prey encounter days. Dogs welcome as long as they’re kept on leads.

BLUE REEF AQUARIUM
Anchor Rd, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TT. Zone A. Open daily 10am-5pm (closes 6pm weekends and during school holidays, admission £13.50 adult/£9.20 child/£43.40 family (2+2). Ffi: www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk/bristol.htm • Very welcome new arrival at Harbourside, taking over the buildings vacated by Wildwalk-at-Bristol and the IMAX cinema. An impressive display of native and tropical fish in naturally-themed habitats from UK waters to 'underwater gardens' of the Mediterranean, tropical rainforests, mangrove pools and on to tropical waters. There's everything from octopi, seahorses and puffer fish to living corals and tropical sharks, cuttlefish and more. FWIW, the Days Out Guide's new favourite fish is the aquarium's arowana, a spectacularly ugly creature. You can get up close to the critters via an underwater walk-through tunnel, and from inside bubble-helmet viewing points. Look out for talks, feeding times etc. Your admission ticket also gets you into a 3D film on fish (it was endangered whales and dolphins when we visited) at the IMAX cinema.

BRISTOL ZOO GARDENS
Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA. Zone A. Open daily 9am-5.30pm (5pm in winter), admission £13 adult/£8 ages 3-14/£11.50 senior, NUS/ISIC card/£38 family (2 adult + 2 child)/£6.20 disabled child. Note that all prices include a 10% voluntary surcharge under the Gift Aid scheme, and that you can get in for 10% less if you wish. Note that there’s also a car-parking charge of £1 per vehicle. Ffi: 0117 974 7300, www.bristolzoo.org.uk • One of the oldest zoos in the country, and easily one of the best (and most popular) days out in the west of England. Bristol Zoo Gardens (to give it its proper title) has loads to see and marvel at. There are over 450 species on show, many of them exotic or endangered, and the place effortlessly mixes fun with education and several conservation and breeding programmes. Highlights include the award-wining Seal and Penguin Coasts where you can go through underwater tunnels to watch the critters swimming around, and then there’s Twilight World, Reptile House and Gorilla Island, plus (our favourite) Bug World, with all manner of creepy-crawlies. The hideously ugly/cute (you decide) aye-ayes are also big favourites. There’s a butterfly house, full of beautiful species from all over the world, and Explorers’ Creek, which includes a water play area, the Forest of Birds, and then woods. It’s always worth checking the website when planning a visit as there are loads of different events, particularly fun activities for kids during the school holidays. Also hosts some very pleasant evening musical and theatrical events in summer, including the legendary Boogie for Brizzle (17 July this year).

CHOLDERTON CHARLIE'S RARE BREEDS FARM
Amesbury Rd, Cholderton, Wilts SP4 0EW. Zone D. Open 10am-5pm Tue-Sun, admission £5.75 adult/£4.75 senior/£4.95 age 2-16/£20 family. Ffi: 01980 629594, www.choldertoncharliesfarm.com • Former dairy farm, now a popular attraction showing off lots of rare breed farm animals and lots of rabbits, guinea pigs etc. Many of the animals can be fed (though you buy food separately). Look out for the twice-daily 'Pork Stakes' pig races. Good play area and awesome sand pit, too. Close to Stonehenge, and also has a field of tipis that sleep up to six if you fancy staying the night.

COTSWOLD FARM PARK
Guiting Power, nr Stow on the Wold, Cheltenham, Glos GL54 5UG (NB Beware using SatNav systems to travel here as they may direct you through a deep ford; follow brown and white tourist signposts instead). Zone D. Open daily 13 Mar-5 Sept 10.30am-5pm, then weekends to 17 Oct, closed in winter, admission £6.95 adult/£6.45 senior/£5.65 under-16/£22.75 family. Ffi: 01451 850307, www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk • One of the original and best of the ubiquitous rash of farm parks that broke out in the 1980s and 90s, and one which has stood the test of time. It’s big, with loads of rare breeds, including sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, horses, poultry and waterfowl. There’s also a big play barn, the Touch Barn (a petting zoo), farm safari rides and a tractor school. Also woodland adventure playground and a regular programme of seasonal demonstrations. Oh, and a ‘jumping pillow’, which sounds brilliant - something between a bouncy castle and a trampoline that both children and adults are allowed on.

COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK
Burford, Oxon OX18 4JP. Zone D. Open daily from 10am, last admission 4.30pm Mar-Sept, 3.30pm Oct-Feb, admission £11.50 adult/£8 senior, ages 3-16. Ffi: 01993 825728, www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk • Large and very popular family attraction that’s home to a wide and impressive variety of animals, many of them endangered, including Asiatic lions and Amur leopards and much more, including a special section dedicated to animals from Madagascar. Aside from animals, the place boasts hugely impressive gardens and parkland, including a water garden. It’s set in the grounds of an early-19th-century manor house, parts of which are open to the public. It’s also one of the few wildlife parks where dogs are allowed in most (but not all) of the areas, provided they’re kept on leads.

COURT FARM COUNTRY PARK
Wolvershill Rd, Banwell, nr Weston-super-Mare BS29 6DL Zone C. Open daily Mar-Nov 10am-5.30pm, shorter hours in winter. Admission £6.50 adult/£5.75 senior/£5 child/£21 family/under-3s free. Ffi: 01934 822383 www.courtfarmcountrypark.co.uk • Very child-friendly place with all sorts of farm animals and pets as well as daily demonstrations, notably bottle feeding of baby animals and the “milking show” in which you see how the cows are milked. Also adventure playground, ‘Cowboy Town’, indoor adventure castle and, during the school summer holidays, a maize maze.

CITY FARMS
See Fun for Free section.

FERNE ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Chard, Somerset TA20 3DH. Zone C. Open daily 10am-5pm, admission free. Ffi: 01460 65214, www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org • One of the oldest animal sanctuaries in the region, with hundreds of residents - guinea pigs, tortoises, ferrets, ducks, hens, geese, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, sheep, donkeys, horses and cows. Families welcome. The sanctuary is also wheelchair-friendly and there are picnic tables in the conservation area. Admission is free, but obviously they hope you’ll put some money in the collecting tin or give a cat or dog a good home. You can also sponsor an animal. 2010’s big open day, with lots of events and extras, is on 28 July.

HOLLY HEDGE ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Wild Country Lane, Barrow Gurney, nr Bristol BS48 3SE. Zone B. Open daily 11am-4pm (until 2pm Tue), admission free. Ffi: 01275 474719, www.hollyhedge.org.uk • Animal sanctuary, mostly with cats and dogs and the occasional rabbit. Drop by and they’ll appreciate a donation or, better still, offer one of the animals a good home.

HORSEWORLD
Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 0QJ. Zone A. Open daily 1 Apr-31 Oct 10am-5pm (1 Nov-31 Mar Wed-Sun 10am-4pm), admission £6.95 adult/£5.95 senior and concs/£4.95 age 3-15/£20.95 family. Discounts for Discovery Card holders. Ffi: 01275 540173, www.horseworld.org.uk • A firm local favourite, especially with family visitors and younger children. This is no mere horsy theme park - it’s run by The Friends of Bristol Horses Society, a registered charity that looks after horses, ponies and donkeys that have been mistreated or neglected, who have put together an excellent visitor centre in order to raise funds. You can get up close to the animals, and there’s an indoor play barn and outdoor adventure playground, picnic area, café, daily demonstrations and more. There’s an interactive museum where you can learn all sorts of interesting stuff about horses and lots of events happening through the season. See website for details.

LONGLEAT
Nr Warminster, Wilts BA12 7NW. Zone C • See Theme Parks section.

NOAH’S ARK ZOO FARM
Failand Rd, Wraxall, nr Bristol BS48 1PG. Zone B. Open Mon-Sat until 6 Nov 10.30am-5pm, closed Sun, admission £11 adult/£10 concs/£9 ages 2-16/£35 family (1 adult + 3 children)/£37 family (2 adults + 2 children). Ffi: 01275 852606, www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk • About 100 acres of farmland in rather pleasant North Somerset countryside with all the usual petting zoo favourites, plus a growing array of more exotic animals, including deer, rhinos, camels, alpacas, giraffes, reptiles, birds and more. Some lions had arrived as this guide was going to press. Also big indoor and outdoor play areas, daily animal shows, keeper talks and more. Some visitors may care to note that this place is controversial; there was a stink over its tiger (now deceased) last year, and the devout Christian owners use it to try and persuade visitors and school trips that Darwinian evolution is false, promoting creationism instead. If you want to hurt your brain, go to the website and click on ‘creation research’.

OLD DOWN COUNTRY PARK
Foxholes Lane, Tockington, nr Bristol BS32 4PG. Zone B. Open daily 10am-6pm (7pm June-Sept & 4pm Oct-Feb), admission £5.50 adult/£3 senior, age 2-15/£15 family (2+2). Ffi: 01454 414081, www.olddownpark.co.uk • Big old manor house (not open to public) and farm and grounds with lots of animals, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, wallabies, reindeer, alpacas… Also adventure playground, fishing lake, woodland walks etc. Café & farm shop selling local and own produce. Nice place, kinda hidden away but not far from Bristol.

PUXTON PARK
Cowslip Lane, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare BS24 6AH. Zone C. Open daily 10am-5.30pm, summer admission prices £7.50 adult/£6.50 concs and ages 4-16/£25 family (up to 4 persons, inc at least one adult). Ffi: 0844 800 2295, www.puxton.co.uk • Farm park designed to show the connections between food, farming and conservation while still being fun. Based on a 70-acre organic dairy farm, there’s a lake, wildlife hide, several miles of trails, livestock pens and crop displays, as well as a farm shop specialising in local, seasonal and/or organic food, with regular tastings and talks, a restaurant and café, plus play barn.

PUZZLE WOOD
Off B4228 nr Coleford, Glos GL16 8QB. Zone D. Open daily 10am-5pm (shorter hours in winter), admission £5 adult/£3.50 ages 4-16/£16 family. Ffi: 01594 833187, www.puzzlewood.net • The Forest of Dean is full of oddities, but this place probably takes first place. More than 2,000 years ago, before the Romans arrived, the area was an open-cast iron mine, but it’s long since been reclaimed by nature to become a maze of weird moss-covered rock formations and gnarled trees and, even though it only stretches to around 14 acres, you can get seriously disorientated and lost here. Marvellous place, though note that it’s completely unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The site also includes some farm animals, an indoor maze and, new for 2010, a willow maze as well.

SEAQUARIUM
Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1BE. Zone C. Open daily 10am-5pm, 2010 admission TBC; 2009 was £6.25 adult/£5.25 senior, child/£22 family (inc free guidebook). Ffi: 01934 613361, www.seaquariumweston.co.uk • Not the biggest and best marine-life place but fascinating nonetheless. It’s always wonderful to get up close and personal with these creatures, particularly if they’re denizens of Britain’s own cold, murky coastal waters. Several themed displays introduce you to the astonishing variety of creatures - sharks, eels, octopus, cod and lots more - that haunt our shores. OK, maybe not that many cod any more. There are some tropical creatures, too, including the enigmatic and intriguing seahorses.

WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM
Westonbirt, nr Tetbury, Glos GL8 8QS. Zone C. Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat & Sun 8am-8pm, shorter hours in winter, admission rates vary with special offers and special events, but for most days until 30 Sept rates are £8 adult/£7 concession/£3 child/under-5s free. Ffi: 01666 880220, www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt • Some 600 acres, covered with around 18,000 trees from all over the world, collected by the Victorian gentleman-horticulturalist whose estate this once was (his very grand house is now a private school for girls but opens to the public a couple of times a year - see www.westonbirt.gloucs.sch.uk). Apart from its scientific importance as one of the most extensive collections of trees in the world, it’s a grand day out. Plenty of pushchair/wheelchair-friendly pathways, but also lots of grassy bits to burn off excess energy. Some people will tell you it’s best to visit in the autumn, when the leaves are changing colour, but any time is a good time. See the blossoms in spring, have some lovely shaded walks in summer, and do the winter wonderland thing if it snows. As one of the West’s greatest attractions, it gets crowded, so weekdays in term-time are a definite favourite for visiting. Boasts lots of events, educational and conservation activities for adults and kids as well as some open-air summer concerts and, in late summer, the Festival of the Tree (23-30 Aug 2010), whose attractions include vast sculptures done with chainsaws. Also look out for the evenings when lights and lasers turn it into an ‘enchanted forest’ in the run-up to Christmas. And bring your camera - places like this make us all feel like photographic geniuses. The place is also currently undergoing lots of improvements - follow its progress at www.westonbirtproject.co.uk

WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST
Slimbridge, Glos GL2 7BT. Zone C. Open daily 9.30am-5.30pm (closes earlier in winter), admission £9.75 adult/£7.50 concs/£5.30 ages 4-16/£27.30 family, admission includes voluntary donation under Gift Aid scheme; reduce price by 10% if you do not wish to pay it. Ffi: 01453 890333, www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge • One of the world’s leading centres for the study and conservation of wetland birds - it bills itself with some justification as “the birthplace of modern conservation” - was founded by the late Sir Peter Scott, who started out shooting birds, before realising how important it was to save ’em instead. It makes for a day out that’s as worthy as it’s fun. See, feed and learn about wetland birds, and help the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to conserve wetland habitats. There are hides in the grounds for you to spy on shyer species, and you might even catch a glimpse of a kingfisher. Very nice visitor centre, decent cafe/restaurant and shop, play area and loads of activities for children and grown-ups, particularly in the school hols. Phone or check website to see which seasonal visitors are flying through and find out about events. A good visit any time of year.

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