HANWELL ZOO
A taste of the wild
How many towns can boast they have meerkats , lemurs and bearded dragons in their parks ? Well , Hanwell can . And there is lots to do and see there this spring .
The animal centre has just been renamed Hanwell Zoo to better reflect its array of wildlife . It has been tucked away in Brent River Park , often called the Bunny Park , for 42 years but has more creatures than ever before and has plans to expand even more this summer . Beau-Jensen McCubbin , zookeeper at the centre for six years , told us about the work – and a big year ahead .
“ Our zoo is very much a taste of the wild in a busy city ,” said Beau-Jensen . “ And we pride ourselves on the sense of community here . Over the past few years , we have renovated every single animal space within the zoo , creating larger and more modern habitats for the rare animals that live here . Our collection , too , has grown . Endangered red-crowned cranes and green peacocks now live in our large
Asian aviary , dedicated to the conservation of rare birds from the Far East .
“ Ever entertaining meerkats and porcupines live in our African space which was opened by friend of the park Stephen Fry . Our ‘ Jungle Walkthrough ’ houses a number of fantastic lizards , snakes and butterflies and our Madagascan space is now home to a family of ring-tailed lemurs .
“ With the rare agouti ( a large South American rodent ) and Bali starlings ( one of the rarest birds in the world ), to the more familiar pigs , goats , rabbits , chickens and turkeys , there is so much to learn here about the natural world .
“ 2017 is a big year for the zoo , with a number of new arrivals expected . Our conservation work , and education programmes within the community , would not be possible without the support of our wonderful visitors and volunteers , so thank you .”
With the beautiful park surrounding the zoo , an arboretum , play areas , a maze , and a renovated cafe , there is something for everyone and it should continue to be a family favourite for many years to come .
From 1 April there will be entrance fees for adults (£ 2.50 ), and for children over three years old (£ 1 ); but there will be annual season tickets at great prices – and membership packages too . This will be essential in funding the running costs of the zoo .
Visit the new website www . hanwellzoo . co . uk or facebook . com / hanwellzoo
DATES FOR THE DIARY n Sunday 26 March : Mother ’ s Day – Bee Green . Learn about the importance of recycling and how bees help us . Decorate a jar to grow your own bean plant in . n Easter weekend ( 14-17 April ): An Easter egg hunt will help you learn about all the layers at the zoo . There will be prizes and other fun activities .
around ealing Spring 2017 15