BIG ZOOS FOR LITTLE ANIMAL LOVERS
At Yumping.co.uk, we work with some of the biggest zoos in the country. These are magical places where wonder and enjoyment go hand in hand with learning and discovery as conservation and environmental issues become more central parts of the experience every year. They all have special attractions and events for children and families.
London Zoo, the first and oldest scientific zoo in the world, has the Animal Adventure area, where children can get up close and personal with animals such as meerkats, alpacas and porcupines in special, low-barrier enclosures. Moving around the area involves climbing, swinging and sliding through a play area, keeping the little ones’ bodies as active as their minds. Colchester Zoo in Essex has its very own Kids Zoo Academy, which lets children aged 6 to 15 years old join the zookeepers as they look after the animals.
But we think it’s Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire that offers families the most complete experience. As well as housing over 3,500 animals, it also has its own train, a kid’s area and populations of wallabies and peacocks that roam freely around the site. Best of all, there’s a safari section to drive through in the family car, where you can see the animals like never before.
INTERACTIVE ANIMAL EXPERIENCES
Aside from the largest, longest established zoos, there are many smaller wildlife parks and outdoor venues that offer zoological experiences around the UK. Here are some of our picks for visiting with the family.
Hoo Zoo in Shropshire is a small zoo with a lot of charm. It has an extensive range of animal interaction experiences which allow visitors to see the creatures face to face and, in some cases, feed them. The Meet the Meerkats experience is suitable for children as young as six years old and there are many others that they can enjoy from the age of 8. The zoo is also home to Dinosaur World, also known as Hoo-rassic World, which features over 30 life-size models of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles. It’s a favourite for both kids and parents!
You can go one better than a meet-and-greet at Charnwood Forest Alpacas on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border. Here, you can take a stroll with adorable camelids through bucolic surroundings. Due to their size and anatomy, alpacas can’t carry people - even children - but there are horses and ponies that offer rides to everyone from toddlers to adults. Finally, if birds are more your thing, Winton Castle outside Edinburgh puts on falconry displays as well as outdoor activities archery, clay pigeon shooting, off-road 4x4 driving.
SEE ANIMALS IN THE WILD
Of all the conversations that will come up on the drive home, inspired by what you’ve seen at the zoo, one of the most important is about the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. If you decide that you’d rather see animals in their natural surroundings, we offer plenty of activities that give you this chance. Anything that takes you through the countryside, particular Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks, will let you contemplate British nature at its finest. Horse riding, hiking and cycling are good ways to spot birds, invertebrates and some larger animals like deer.
But the best place to go wildlife watching in the UK is on the water. We have a variety of specialist animal spotting boat trips in places like Pembrokeshire and the Scottish Highlands where marine mammals such as seals and dolphins can be observed. These are wonderful experiences to share with children and babies, while dogs are often allowed on board too. Kayaking, especially sea kayaking, is also a great way to explore rich aquatic habitats without disturbing the animals that live there, though it’s usually only suitable for teens and adults.
