Chester Zoo The Islands development - planning, development and build (2012-2015)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Latest blog from the zoo on the Islands mini site: the Malayan tapirs are now part of Islands..... Not sure if this is another example of the marketing team getting it wrong again ( they previously stated that the Bornean orangs were moving to Islands)? I am really hoping they do move over and that progress has moved on so well and within / under budget that they managed to find the time and money to build the originally proposed enclosures???? Fingers crossed!!
 
You never know they might have got it right,but their track record isn't good at getting things right,on Islands or a good number of other things,like Chester being the only zoo in Europe with a Tuatara,well they are if you discount a small un-known collection called Zoo Berlin!!!
 
zoogiraffe said:
You never know they might have got it right,but their track record isn't good at getting things right,on Islands or a good number of other things,like Chester being the only zoo in Europe with a Tuatara,well they are if you discount a small un-known collection called Zoo Berlin!!!
Click to expand...

Surprise surprise....... They got it wrong on the tapirs! They will NOT be part of Islands phase 1.....
 
Islands website updated

The mini site has been fully updated and rebranded with some new videos, details on in-situ conservation, behind the scenes info and a competition.

Im loving the branding of Islands and assume that this new theming will run through consistently into the advertising, and throughout the exhibit.

Definitely living up to 'world class' status!!! VERY impressed so far. Even the 'theming' is appropriate and adds value rather than being tacky.
 
Forgive me for not reading back through 18 pp of this but do any of you know when this project will open? I'm planning on visiting in early June but will rethink the date if you think it won't be finished by then...
 
volvox said:
Forgive me for not reading back through 18 pp of this but do any of you know when this project will open? I'm planning on visiting in early June but will rethink the date if you think it won't be finished by then...
Click to expand...

I think they are hoping to be done for Easter if not before, so fingers crossed you should be good for a June visit
 
Hmmm, yes, it's the fingers-crossed aspect I'm not keen on - really don't want to travel all that way to find half the zoo a construction site! I guess I'll just have to wait to book hotel/train etc till nearer the time when they'll have a better idea.
 
volvox said:
Hmmm, yes, it's the fingers-crossed aspect I'm not keen on - really don't want to travel all that way to find half the zoo a construction site! I guess I'll just have to wait to book hotel/train etc till nearer the time when they'll have a better idea.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the exact date is yet to be confirmed. All the blurb still saying 'Spring 2015'. I think they are ahead of schedule on the build though, and are already taking group bookings for next summer. Some if the info is saying it will be ready for Easter but I think this highly unlikely - I reckon May at the earliest.....
 
At the members talk about this project early in December this year,it was stated they were aiming for a May opening and not Easter!Although so of the animals from the core zoo may have already moved in by Easter,so there could be a few empty spaces within the core zoo!

So visiting in June should be no problem for it being open by then,and more than a few of the empty spaces,in the core zoo to have been back filled!

Also half the zoo will NOT BE A BUILDING SITE as the land that this project is on has never previously been used as agricultural land only,there may be some work converting a few exhibits but many will not require too much work for the back fill!

Also worth noting that hopefully in May if everything goes to plan,I should be posting details for a walk and talk with Tim Rowlands round Islands in late June,but at present nothing is confirmed on this!!
 
Thank you, zoogiraffe, that's really helpful. Sorry I implied half the zoo will be a building site! - there's ignorance for you. Probably because of my local experience where London is experiencing a central black hole where the lions' new home is being constructed. Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and organise our Chester visit for early June as planned!
 
volvox said:
Thank you, zoogiraffe, that's really helpful. Sorry I implied half the zoo will be a building site! - there's ignorance for you. Probably because of my local experience where London is experiencing a central black hole where the lions' new home is being constructed. Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and organise our Chester visit for early June as planned!
Click to expand...
Not a problem,I know what you mean with London but then London will fit inside Chester atleast 5 times,and thats before they open Islands,so yes they have a bit more space,so things don't look like a building site,its also worth noting that Islands is just bigger than the whole site of Bristol Zoo!
 
ChesterZooFan said:
Islands website updated

The mini site has been fully updated and rebranded with some new videos, details on in-situ conservation, behind the scenes info and a competition.

Im loving the branding of Islands and assume that this new theming will run through consistently into the advertising, and throughout the exhibit.

Definitely living up to 'world class' status!!! VERY impressed so far. Even the 'theming' is appropriate and adds value rather than being tacky.
Click to expand...

can you post the link? all I am getting on the zoo site is old news.
 
zoogiraffe said:
Also half the zoo will NOT BE A BUILDING SITE as the land that this project is on has never previously been used as agricultural land only...
Click to expand...
Not wishing to be pedantic, but that's not correct. Parts of Islands are built on one half of the scimitar-horned oryx paddock, and wholly on what used to be the Père David's deer paddock.
zoogiraffe said:
Also worth noting that hopefully in May if everything goes to plan,I should be posting details for a walk and talk with Tim Rowlands round Islands in late June,but at present nothing is confirmed on this!!
Click to expand...
That retirement didn't last long. ;)
 
SMR said:
Not wishing to be pedantic, but that's not correct. Parts of Islands are built on one half of the scimitar-horned oryx paddock, and wholly on what used to be the Père David's deer paddock.

That retirement didn't last long. ;)
Click to expand...
Well somebody has to be pedantic:p

As for retirement,I suggest you didn't listen properly at the last walk and talk,as it was said that the Islands one next year would be the last that I sorted out before handing,over to my very competent replacement!
 
Islands is now a month late.

The same construction firm is building new civic offices for Stoke-on-Trent city council. The opening has been put back and it is not the first delay. Do I detect similarities?
 
Isn't the smaller parts, I.e most of what's left to construct being handled by a different firm, and even if not I'd say that a month delay for a complex build, the type of which not seen in the UK before, probally isn't that bad.
 
bongorob said:
Islands is now a month late.

The same construction firm is building new civic offices for Stoke-on-Trent city council. The opening has been put back and it is not the first delay. Do I detect similarities?
Click to expand...

Big building projects regularly overrun - it's the nature of the beast. I don't think there's any reason for particular concern. I'm sure that's why the zoo has been keeping the opening date vague (even now it's only been narrowed down to one-twelfth of the year...) - this was always something that could happen.
 
jde7582 said:
Isn't the smaller parts, I.e most of what's left to construct being handled by a different firm, and even if not I'd say that a month delay for a complex build, the type of which not seen in the UK before, probally isn't that bad.
Click to expand...
Well they seem to manage to do it in Germany and the Netherlands!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top