We are delighted to announce that wildlife photographer, Ron Pickering, has agreed to present his amazing pictures at a “Photo Safari” for our members on Sunday, December 4th from 1 – 2 pm in the Lecture Theatre. All Zoo members are very welcome to attend.
There will also be an Enrichment Workshop at 11 am on that day. However, places are limited, so please telephone 01253 830805 to book in.
Snow Leopard
Date for your diary : Monday, 31st October, 2011 from 5 – 7 pm.
It’s nearly Halloween and our party’s going to be great! It includes a fancy dress competition, fun and games, prizes, snack, drink and a spooky gift. Oh, and parking’s free, Mums and Dads. Tickets are on sale now at the Play Barn, priced £7.00 per child (or £5.00 for Play Barn members). Book soon!
If you’re a Zoo member, you’re invited to series of presentations taking place over the winter months. Times may vary and workshops may be available for children, but full details will be posted here on the website and on Facebook as well as around the Zoo. Talks take place in the Lecture Theatre in the main entrance, last approximately one hour and light refreshments will be available.
Sunday, 6th November : New Developments – what’s next?
Sunday, 4th December : 21st Century Tiger – the work of the charity supporting tigers worldwide.
Sunday, 15th January : The Perils of the Wildlife Trade – how we can help.
Sunday, 26th February : Asian Elephants and the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust.
Sunday, 25th March : Animal Training - how do they do it and what are the benefits?
Make sure you note the dates in your diary.
From Saturday 22nd to 30th October little ghouls and goblins can try their hand at pumpkin carving at 11.30am in the Children’s Farm. They’ll then get the chance to fill their creations with treats, which will be fed to the animals across the zoo.
Pumpkins will also be hidden in animal enclosures and a fun trail to find them all will take place every day.
There will also be spooky badge making, giraffe and lorikeet feeding and the usual popular line up of animal talks, feeds and contact sessions across the zoo and in the Children’s Farm. All times and information can be found on the website.
Jude Rothwell, PR and Marketing Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “Half term is set to be a spooky spectacular with fun for the whole family.
“Pumpkin carving and animal feeding are always very popular with the children and, of course, our residents!”
Have you recently visited Blackpool Zoo and if so are you interested in joining an informal discussion group regarding your zoo experience?
We are looking for a small group of people to take part in this session where you will be asked questions and invited to chat about your experiences in and around the zoo We will record the sessions and use the information to improve the zoo for the future.
We would love to hear from you providing you fall into the categories:
a) You do NOT hold an annual pass/membership
b) You have visited the zoo as a parent of a child under the age of 14 years.
Details of the session are:
When: Tuesday 16th August 2011
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Where: Blackpool Zoo, East Park Drive, Blackpool
Payment: Expenses will be paid in the form of £40 cash which will be issued to you at the end of the session.
If you are interested in participating in this discussion group and would like to know more, please contact one of the people listed below:
Cathy Burrows: Telephone 015395 30153 x 208 e-mail cathy.burrows@lakesaquarium.co.uk or text to 07855 249773.
Rudy Rengers: Telephone 01539 739 777 e-mail rudy@ahamarketing.co.uk
Please provide a contact telephone number. We will be in contact by return to discuss in further detail and answer any questions you may have.
If you’re looking for great childcare in a superb location, then look no further. Blackpool Zoo’s unique A – Zoo Children’s Day Nursery is offering you the opportunity to call in and see for yourself what’s available for your most precious possession’s early education.
A range of activities will take place from face painting to donkey brushing, cake decorating to baby massage and much more besides whilst parents can meet the staff and look around the aptly named Lion Cubs and Wise Owls’ rooms.
A - Zoo children meet the sealions
A very special visit at 11.00 am by Mooky the Clown and Mr Boo from the Tower Circus will delight children and adults alike.
The Nursery does have vacancies for 3 and 4 year olds following the seasonal exodus to “big school”.
Make it a date – from 10.00 am on Saturday, 23rd July.
Fun for all the family this half term.
Our half term activities are in support of the EAZA Ape Campaign and you could win the chance to go behind the scenes at the Ape House and meet the gorillas (age 18+) or meet the lemurs (age 17 and under). Popular competitions including name the fluffy gorilla and ‘poo’ throwing will also be running.
There will be three creepy crawly sessions each day along with three chances to hand feed the giraffes (tickets cost £5 and are available from the Amazonia shop).
Animal mad Taylor-Dean Brandreth from Rainhill in St Helens is officially a bookworm!
The nine year old has been crowned the winner of Blackpool Zoo’s monthly bookworm competition, which was launched on World Book Day this year.
On a recent visit to the zoo Taylor-Dean, who attends Longton Lane Community
Following a glittering awards ceremony with TV wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, the Zoo’s Managing Director, Darren Webster, expressed his jubilation.
He said: “We’re delighted to have won this prestigious title – it is clear recognition of the significant investment Blackpool Zoo has made in its facilities and services, and I would like to thank all our members of staff who work so hard to make Blackpool Zoo the success story it is today!
Blackpool Zoo has been buzzing throughout 2010, with a stream of exciting new facilities, arrivals and awards.
In May it celebrated the official opening of a new sealion enclosure completing the fantastic £1million Active Oceans area. And there’s been lots of excitement over the births of the first ever Western Lowland Gorilla and Pileated Gibbon.
So far in 2010, the Zoo has picked up awards in the Lancashire BIBAs (Be Inspired Business Awards) when it was named Tourism Business of the Year and shortly afterwards, was crowned Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Blackpool Tourism Awards.
The Zoo will now represent Lancashire and Blackpool at the England North West Tourism Awards later this year.
Darren added: “So far, 2010 has been a fantastic year for us – there’s been lots to celebrate, and this latest accolade is a wonderful acknowledgment of our achievements.
“We are looking forward to a busy summer season, and hope that more people than ever, will visit Blackpool Zoo and see for themselves the incredible visitor experience we offer here!”