You’ll be hard pressed to find a better setting for a wildlife park in the UK. The Lake District Wildlife Park, just ten minutes from Keswick, has a backdrop of mountains, including the impressive western side of Skiddaw, the fourth highest peak in England.
The air of peace and tranquillity emanating from these high peaks is mirrored by the relaxed and placid atmosphere within this 25-acre park, close to the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake.
It’s the only wildlife park in northern Cumbria and an active member of BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums), working alongside other UK zoos to help strengthen breeding programmes and aid the conservation of many rare species.
The park’s ethos is focused on “education, conservation and having fun” and you can experience all during a day trip – and, yes, you can easily while away a day here.
My wife and I took our two children, aged eleven and five, to the park in August and were blessed with clear blue skies. Car parking is close to the entrance and after being greeted by a friendly member of staff – in fact, every employee we spoke to were sporting smiles, helpful and full of knowledge – we began exploring the park.
Over 100 species can be found at the park, everything from cheeky meerkats to impressive yaks. Our day was full of many highlights, including bird of prey flying demonstrations. Relaxing on the grass, we watched as the falconer not only taught his audience plenty about his feathery friends on show but impressed us with an array of birds, including owls and falcons, providing aerial displays.
Hollie thought feeding the meerkats sounded a good idea until she was handed a tub of grubs. But realising we’ve all got to eat, even if a meerkat’s diet leaves much to be desired, she calmly sprinkled their meal onto the floor. Peter, meanwhile, enjoyed seeing the spiders and snakes, especially the boa constrictor which can grow to four metres in length – an incredible fact, and one of many you’ll learn during your time at the park.
But any visit wouldn’t be complete without spending time watching Brian, who, at 48, is reputedly the oldest gibbon in Europe.
All the keepers are experts in their field and that is clear to see if you attend the Keeper Talks which happen throughout the day, so check out the timings on the information board just inside the park.
Visitors can bring their own picnics into the park or enjoy a meal at the café. I’ve been to enough theme and wildlife parks where the food can be expensive and not particularly appetising but felt happy with the quality and price of the meals and snacks on offer.
Just before heading home after a long but very enjoyable day, Peter and Hollie expended the last of their energy at the playground before we bought some souvenirs from the shop to remind us of the Lake District Wildlife Park.
Whether you’re in the Lake District for a week or weekend, put your walking boots aside for a few hours or even a whole day and head over to the wildlife park – you won’t be disappointed.
Further information:
Keswick
Cumbria CA12 4RD
Tel: 017687 76239
www.lakedistrictwildlifepark.co.uk