Maybe it was moving to the UK from Texas where wildlife filled the garden, even in suburban yards in Houston. Perhaps it was just that I have so enjoyed time spent visiting and volunteering at zoos and wildlife parks over the years. Whatever the reason, in my first year of living in the UK, I found myself searching for opportunities to have more animal experiences and en- counters. Fortunately for me, there are so many amazing locations and organisations available all over the UK for people who want to get a little closer to the birds, bees and beasts of Great Britain. Te easiest and most familiar are, of
course, the zoos. For a zoo with real his- tory, it has to be the ZSL London Zoo. As the oldest scientifically established zoo in the world, this zoo is filled with beautiful and historic architecture, as well as an abundance of animal species. But for a re- ally special experience beyond the ordi- nary, sign up for one of their “Keeper for a Day” experiences. My husband treated my 13 year-old son and me to this in the sum- mer and, although it’s not cheap, it was an unforgettable experience for us all. I got an all-day, behind the scenes chance to feed, touch, clean, and generally interact with giraffes, monkeys, giant tortoises and much more. My son’s Junior Keeper expe- rience was a half-day (at roughly half the cost) and included the cost of admission for both he and an accompanying adult (my husband). Te keepers were friendly, knowledgeable and very tolerant of inces- sant questions! Tere was light food and drinks provided and a free t-shirt to com- memorate the day. Tere is a similar expe- rience at the much smaller, but very well-regarded, Bristol Zoo which includes the chance to spend the night on zoo
22 FOCUS The Magazine May/June 2018
grounds in a beautifully refurbished former keeper’s lodge. Tere is a four-course meal prepared by a personal chef, an after-hours guided tour and catered breakfast in the gorilla enclosure. Whipsnade Zoo is London Zoo’s fa-
mous sister site. Designed more like a sa- fari park, at 600 acres it is the UK’s largest zoo, while the most visited zoo in the UK is Chester Zoo with almost 2 million visi- tors a year. TripAdvisor voted Chester the best zoo in the UK last year. And if you want to see the only giant pandas and koalas in the UK, try a visit to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. If you are hoping to keep young chil-
dren entertained, sometimes simply view- ing animals in enclosures is not enough. One type of venue that is common throughout the UK is the animal park with added entertainment options for little ones. Our family recently visited the Manor Wildlife Park in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Although my two little grand- daughters enjoyed hand feeding the walla- bies, the biggest hit of the day was the enormous enclosed play areas, with climb- ing structures, bouncing arenas and self- propelled cars. Given the variability of the weather, the fact that these are inside huge geodesic domes meant it was a nice break from the rainy drizzle. And for their par- ents and me the lovely and cosy café with a wood-burner and comfy couches made the day a complete success. Nearby is the simi- lar and extremely popular Folly Farms. Tis venue is zoo, farm and fun park com- bined and receives rave reviews from friends who have made this a holiday des- tination for years. In urban London, places where children and adults can connect with nature and
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