Finding ‘lost’ uk collections

pangolin12

pangolin12

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
5+ year member
I have found 3 collections in the uk, but I can find little to no information of whether they are still open (or if they were ever open in the first place)
These collections are:
1. Brean down tropical bird gardens
I know this one was open, as per the gallery, but I can’t find any information that is up to date. As far as I can find, the bird garden is undergoing refurbishment, but no one knows when it will be finished. I believe that the birds are still there afaik also.
2. North Cornwall aviaries
I can’t find any information about this place, other than an address. Is it an aviary in a public park? Is it a small bird park? Who knows? Not me:p. All I know is that it is in Bodmin...
3. Cowal bird gardens
I discovered this place through zoos uk, a website with, as the name suggests, zoos in the uk, although some are closed (eg long Sutton butterfly house, blackbrook zoo etc). However, these zoos have closing dates on them, whereas cowal bird gardens was reported closed in 2006, but is unconfirmed as per zoos uk. I doubt this one is still around but it is a very interesting topic.

Things like these really interest me; a good zoo mystery;). It would be nice if anyone could add any other ‘lost’ zoos or info on the above places.
 
Dassie rat said:
There are several links to the Cowal Bird Garden: Zoos-UK.com - Cowal Bird Garden
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s the website I found, but it doesn’t confirm whether it is closed, and says to ‘contact whether more authoritative information is found’, which is interesting...
Dassie rat said:
There are also links to the North Cornwall Aviaries: North Cornwall Aviaries | Bodmin | England | Animal Guide
Click to expand...
Interesting, many thanks for this, it seems that it is just a pet supplies shop then; not what I was expecting:p
 
I visited Brean Down( the headland) a couple of years ago and parked near the Bird Garden. You could still hear birds in there then though I'm not sure if it was open or not.
 
They still seem to breed African Greys every year - I can confirm that at least.
 
pangolin12 said:
I have found 3 collections in the uk, but I can find little to no information of whether they are still open (or if they were ever open in the first place)
These collections are:
1. Brean down tropical bird gardens
I know this one was open, as per the gallery, but I can’t find any information that is up to date. As far as I can find, the bird garden is undergoing refurbishment, but no one knows when it will be finished. I believe that the birds are still there afaik also.
2. North Cornwall aviaries
I can’t find any information about this place, other than an address. Is it an aviary in a public park? Is it a small bird park? Who knows? Not me:p. All I know is that it is in Bodmin...
3. Cowal bird gardens
I discovered this place through zoos uk, a website with, as the name suggests, zoos in the uk, although some are closed (eg long Sutton butterfly house, blackbrook zoo etc). However, these zoos have closing dates on them, whereas cowal bird gardens was reported closed in 2006, but is unconfirmed as per zoos uk. I doubt this one is still around but it is a very interesting topic.

Things like these really interest me; a good zoo mystery;). It would be nice if anyone could add any other ‘lost’ zoos or info on the above places.
Click to expand...
North Cornwall Aviaries ceased trading as such, several years ago. They had birds from me and vice versa for several years before then. Lovely little place with a few select mammals, decent bird collection. Basically a bird dealership, with a decent onsite permanent collection.
Nice people, good place. There may still be birds on site.
 
FBBird said:
North Cornwall Aviaries ceased trading as such, several years ago. They had birds from me and vice versa for several years before then. Lovely little place with a few select mammals, decent bird collection. Basically a bird dealership, with a decent onsite permanent collection.
Nice people, good place. There may still be birds on site.
Click to expand...
Interesting, so I’m guessing it’s no longer open to the public after they ceased trading?
 
pangolin12 said:
.....Things like these really interest me; a good zoo mystery;). It would be nice if anyone could add any other ‘lost’ zoos.....
Click to expand...
Since you're interested in "lost" UK zoos, you should read Clinton Keeling's "Where the...." series of books.

Clin's original self-published volumes are scarce and hard to find but the Bartlett Society has republished the first two books in the series:
  • Where the Lion Trod (1984; 2019)
  • Where the Crane Danced (1985; 2020 )
And the third book
  • Where the Zebu Grazed (1989)
will follow.

The intention is that the Bartlett Society will republish all nine volumes in this series.
 
Tim May said:
Since you're interested in "lost" UK zoos, you should read Clinton Keeling's "Where the...." series of books.

Clin's original self-published volumes are scarce and hard to find but the Bartlett Society has republished the first two books in the series:
  • Where the Lion Trod (1984; 2019)
  • Where the Crane Danced (1985; 2020 )
And the third book
  • Where the Zebu Grazed (1989)
will follow.

The intention is that the Bartlett Society will republish all nine volumes in this series.
Click to expand...
These books sound very interesting, and I shall definitely keep them in mind, it’s nice that they’re being republished:)
 
pangolin12 said:
I have found 3 collections in the uk, but I can find little to no information of whether they are still open (or if they were ever open in the first place)
These collections are:
1. Brean down tropical bird gardens
I know this one was open, as per the gallery, but I can’t find any information that is up to date. As far as I can find, the bird garden is undergoing refurbishment, but no one knows when it will be finished. I believe that the birds are still there afaik also.
2. North Cornwall aviaries
I can’t find any information about this place, other than an address. Is it an aviary in a public park? Is it a small bird park? Who knows? Not me:p. All I know is that it is in Bodmin...
3. Cowal bird gardens
I discovered this place through zoos uk, a website with, as the name suggests, zoos in the uk, although some are closed (eg long LONG (edit) Sutton butterfly house, blackbrook zoo etc). However, these zoos have closing dates on them, whereas cowal bird gardens was reported closed in 2006, but is unconfirmed as per zoos uk. I doubt this one is still around but it is a very interesting topic.

Things like these really interest me; a good zoo mystery;). It would be nice if anyone could add any other ‘lost’ zoos or info on the above places.
Click to expand...

What's in a name...
'Lost Zoos' and 'Lost Collections' might not be the same thing at all.
Be careful - as a listing on some web-site is no proof of anything,if it is not backed up.
Brean Down is a name from the past, but the web-site given is not theirs, it is just a page on the town web-site and not one that looks very up-to-date to me...
The other two are new to me, but as stated above 'Aviaries', 'Bird Garden/Farm/Park' are often names used by dealers. Examples are Ravensden Zoo and Water Zoo in Peterborough are two 'Zoos' which never were.
Other dealers like Willer's Mill Fish Farm and Wingham Bird Farm/Park for example, of course both turned into something different...
 
Thanks everyone for the help:)
I have found one more, after looking at the zoo licenses list I found:
Notter animal park- cant find many recent references to here, but apparently it’s part of a pub called notterbridge inn. Any more info would be great
Thanks
 
There is a link here: Notterbridge Animal Park in Cornwall ( now closed).

Pub disappointing - Animal park seriously depressing!! - Notterbridge Inn, Saltash Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor

The park was used to house unwanted pets and mistreated animals. The collection included chickens, ducks, finches, degus, goats, monkeys, parrots, eagle owls, white peafowl and a wallaby
An injured baby meerkat dragged its leg along behind it. It was kept with a group, rather than being put down.
A parrot lacked feathers on its head. It had been abused and its feathers were wrongly clipped.
A raccoon repeatedly paced up and down.
A blind rabbit was 'guided by guinea pigs'. They had been depressed when separated.
The hand washing facilities were too filthy for children to stroke animals.

Tripadvisor reviews of the pub and animal collection are very mixed
 
Dassie rat said:
There is a link here: Notterbridge Animal Park in Cornwall ( now closed).

Pub disappointing - Animal park seriously depressing!! - Notterbridge Inn, Saltash Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor

The park was used to house unwanted pets and mistreated animals. The collection included chickens, ducks, finches, degus, goats, monkeys, parrots, eagle owls, white peafowl and a wallaby
An injured baby meerkat dragged its leg along behind it. It was kept with a group, rather than being put down.
A parrot lacked feathers on its head. It had been abused and its feathers were wrongly clipped.
A raccoon repeatedly paced up and down.
A blind rabbit was 'guided by guinea pigs'. They had been depressed when separated.
The hand washing facilities were too filthy for children to stroke animals.

Tripadvisor reviews of the pub and animal collection are very mixed
Click to expand...
Interesting! I’ve never read that thread, although the zoo itself appears to have been not the best.
Thanks :)
 
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