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4 species of otters, eight totally different sorts of owls and one animal-loving tween – you hardly have to learn my New Forest Wildlife Park assessment to guess that that is certainly one of my prime picks if you happen to’re visiting the New Forest with youngsters.
And whereas it’s a stunning place to go to at any time of 12 months, it additionally labored rather well for a gray drizzly day in October once we didn’t fancy a stroll within the woods.
Specialising in British wildlife, there’s an opportunity to see a few of Hampshire’s native animals on the New Forest Wildlife Park, together with deer, badgers and hedgehogs, in addition to gray wolves, which might as soon as have roamed the woodland.
At this time, you’ll be fortunate to identify a lot of the county’s shyer wildlife with youngsters in tow – though you’ll be able to simply see the New Forest’s semi-wild ponies, in addition to deer, donkeys, cows and even pigs foraging within the autumn – so a go to right here is an effective way to introduce youngsters to a few of Britain’s nadoetive animals.
Should you go to throughout college holidays, there are sometimes additional actions for teenagers – our go to shortly earlier than Halloween included a particular path, recognizing letters dotted on pumpkins with clues to trace them down as a enjoyable baby pleasant bonus.
However even with out the additional occasions, it’s not exhausting to whereas away a number of hours right here, wandering the paths across the wildlife park, recognizing over 200 animals from 31 totally different species and profiting from the journey play areas.
At first look, the New Forest Wildlife Park doesn’t appear big, however with a number of totally different areas to discover, there’s extra to see than you would possibly assume at first – and there’s nothing to cease you looping spherical a revisiting a few of your favorite animals from earlier in your go to, as we did.
There are additionally keeper talks all through the day if you wish to double again to catch a type of – preserve an eye fixed out for the main points on the board as you enter, though you may also spot workers feeding the animals at different instances too (preserve an eye fixed out for anybody with a bucket!)
Wandering out to see a string of owls dozing of their enclosures, I did briefly surprise if we’d spend half our go to simply getting previous the primary half dozen creatures – though to be truthful, I do love an owl as properly, particularly an eagle owl.
However across the nook have been our first otters – big otters, to be exact, busy patrolling the outside a part of their very own enclosure, after recognizing a cheeky squirrel which had dropped in.
Big otters are, as they title suggests, fairly massive so the squirrel scarpered sharpish however we nonetheless acquired to see this mom and daughter lolloping round – they’re nearly like seals in some methods.
Strolling again spherical later, we managed to time it to see them being fed as properly, earlier than heading by way of their tunnel into the indoor part of their enclosure, together with their pool.
The truth is, if you happen to love otters, you might spend fairly some time on this indoor part: in addition to the large otters, there’s additionally a Eurasian otter, Chestnut, if you happen to can spot him. Extra solitary than different otters, he’s usually tucked up and hidden away in his personal inside part (though sometimes goes out for a stroll as properly).
There’s no probability you’ll miss the Asian short-clawed otters although – one household in right here, one other in a separate part open air, they squeak enthusiastically at the whole lot and something, scurrying round one another, dipping into the water than scurrying again off once more to analyze one thing new or play with a stone.
It gained’t come as a lot shock to be taught I’m a giant fan of those otters (as is my daughter), who simply appear ridiculously cute and cheeky. The household of 4 we may see indoors – one dad and his three youngsters – regarded like they have been moving into every kind of mischief as we watched.
What we hadn’t anticipated was to be equally gained over by the polecats and ferrets – one stress-free in a hammock, two extra curled up in a fluffy mattress inside a pot, plus loads of time darting inquisitively round. I’m certain they have been as intrigued by us as we have been by them.
And in between, tiny fleet-footed harvest mice scampering alongside little poles and darting into tiny hiding locations.
In fact, there’s no assure you’ll see all of the animals right here – they’ve locations to retreat to, and a few make the most of it, together with the badgers and the hedgehogs, which have been evidently tucked away having a nap – truthful sufficient for nocturnal creatures.
If you’re visiting the New Forest within the rain with youngsters, that is the primary indoor space (plus there’s a small separate indoor conservation part), though there’s some shelter below the timber alongside the paths if it’s solely drizzling.
Persevering with on previous a pair of gorgeous snowy owls and a really sleepy wanting Little Owl, there are two play areas – dripping moist throughout our go to after the morning’s deluge, my daughter was nonetheless tempted to take a break from animal recognizing and profit from them.
However up forward was one more household of otters, smooth-coated otters and the fourth species to be discovered on the New Forest Wildlife Park – very sociable they’ll reside in teams of as much as 25, though the group here’s a distinctly nuclear household: mum, dad, son and daughter.
It was exhausting to inform which have been the adults – everybody acquired concerned within the play flights, the video games of chase and an enormous digging session on the finish, ending with three otters rolling round delightedly within the mud. We determined the one watching with a barely resigned expression will need to have been the mum…!
This a part of the wildlife park can also be dwelling to a number of various kinds of deer which roam round a extra open part.
Most have been lounging below the timber, however one braver doe was out on the lookout for meals and eyeing us up in case we occurred to have some.
From right here, you progress on in the direction of a few of the larger or extra harmful creatures – bison chilling out of their area, a sublime lynx prowling round her enclosure (her shyer sister staying hidden elsewhere) and on to mouflon (wild sheep with big curling horns) and the wallaby walkthrough.
And to complete? The pack of gray wolves – wanting fluffy reasonably than ferocious, however you’re reminded that there’s an electrical fence for a cause.
Though because it turned out, that wasn’t the end – my daughter was having fun with herself a lot that she insisted we went again to the beginning and spent a bit extra time with the otters and polecats. You’ll be able to’t ask for a a lot better verdict on my New Forest Wildlife Park assessment than that!
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with youngsters, plus concepts for issues to do in Hampshire for households, take a look at my prime picks
New Forest Wildlife Park assessment: Must know
Tickets value £14.75 for adults, £11.25 for youngsters aged 3-15 (under-threes are free), plus there are household tickets for £44. Annual memberships are additionally out there, in addition to particular keeper experiences for age 5+.
Tickets are presently solely out there to e-book on arrival, to not prebook prematurely. Beforehand, prebooked tickets have been legitimate for 30 days from the date of buy, without having to specify a date or timed slot.
Opening instances fluctuate all year long, opening at 10am and shutting at nightfall in the course of the winter – final entry is round 90 minutes earlier than closing.
There’s a restaurant on the entrance to the New Forest Wildlife Park – you’ll be able to exit to eat there and re-enter if you might want to (simply maintain onto your tickets/receipt) – and picnic areas, so that you’re welcome to convey your individual meals.
There are additionally bathrooms by the doorway, together with child altering, in addition to extra bathrooms halfway across the park.
The New Forest Wildlife Park is on the jap fringe of the New Forest Nationwide Park close to Ashurst, round 10 minutes’ drive from Lyndhurst and round 20 minutes from Southampton – discover instructions to the Wildlife Park on Deerleap Lane right here. There’s free parking, though it’s first come first served at busy instances.
Throughout the summer time months, the New Forest Tour open-top bus (Pink Route) goes previous the Wildlife Park (and there are typically reductions on entry if you happen to arrive this manner as properly).
There’s additionally a present store with a really tempting array of furry creatures, amongst different souvenirs. Should you’re planning to pay by cellphone, it’s price figuring out there’s barely any knowledge/sign although and no money machine on website (although playing cards ought to work effective).
Enable not less than a few hours to go to – you might rush spherical a bit quicker if you happen to’re in need of time, however most individuals spend round 2-5 hours on the wildlife park. No scooters and bikes are permitted (and if you happen to’re visiting after it’s been moist, anticipate a few of the paths to be muddy).
Pictures copyright MummyTravels
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