The rooms in the Manor House are used for many different purposes, including administrative offices, hibernating species and a fascinating museum occupies one room still with its original furnishings. The old stables and other out-buildings house the reptile and bat houses. The Billiard Room is now the restaurant kitchen, and the billiard table is now the lower tier of a waterfall in the penguins’ enclosure. The penguins live in one corner of the Walled Garden (originally the kitchen garden) and the curious Asian small-clawed otters live in the opposite corner. This area is also home to a variety of small mammals and a greenhouse has been transformed into the Tropical House, where brilliantly plumed birds flit amongst exotic vegetation. Bordering the Walled Garden is the Madagascar Exhibit, which features a walk- through accessible to three species of lemurs, in particular a band of Ring-Tailed Lemurs that behave like mischievous little humans, particularly when there is food around. Feeding them is one of the animal encounters available here (charges apply). In the centre of the park is a large grassy area and a mixture of wild animals can be viewed grazing here during the summer months. Surrounding this area and interspersed amongst the beautiful gardens are enclosures for a variety of animals including rhinos, big cats and giraffes. A breeding programme for white rhinos has been so successful that two have been given to a wildlife park in Australia. Well-behaved dogs can accompany their owners but must be kept on a lead, and there are restrictions regarding the areas they can enter. Marwell Zoo near Winchester in Hampshire The history of Marwell Hall and its estate goes back as far the mid-tenth century when a monastery, Hyde Abbey, was built on the site. Since then, bishops have stayed there, Roundheads and Cavaliers battled here and it became a secret airfield during the Second World War. In 1968 it was bought by John Knowles (1929 – 2019) to create a zoo in the grounds specifically for breeding endangered species. Despite local opposition he succeeded and Marwell Zoo opened in 1972. In
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ONDERING WHERE TO go for a good day out this summer? Whether a family, a couple, an individual, or a group of friends, a wildlife
but all three were created to protect endangered species. Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Gardens near Burford in Oxfordshire Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Gardens was created by the then owner of Bradwell Grove Estate , John Heyworth, and has been welcoming visitors since 1970. His son, Reggie Heyworth, inherited the park, and this delightful combination of stately home and beautiful gardens continues to flourish. A Gothic-style Manor House, built in 1804, is the centrepiece of the park.
park is the ideal attraction. So, pack a picnic and head for one of these three in southern England—the Bristol Zoo Project, Marwell Zoo, or the Cotswolds Wildlife Park and enjoy an entertaining day out. These three parks offer plenty of free parking, good facilities including cafés, picnic sites, playgrounds and shops. Each park has its own characteristics,
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