I was out walking the local chalk downland this afternoon and noticed the big puddles are filled with the same milky-coloured water- so that's what I reckon it is. I was unaware about the use of the chalk boulders as lake edging at Flamingo Park till you supplied the pics.
If it very milky from chalk,it will mean the water has turned very alkaline, i wonder if this will effect the hippos? I know that the east African lakes etc are alkaline so may be they can live in any type of water.
Our wildlife pond goes very grey if the pump stops working, It isn't filtered just circulated and it clears soon after the pump is restarted
Can't answer that but they have been there a good while with(seemingly) no ill effects. I often wonder about the health of the waterfowl and Flamingoes on the Cotswold Park lake too- as that is equally milky-coloured.
I am no fan of the rides but the zoo at Flamingo Land is mostly distinct from them, although of course some do tower over the bottom part of the zoo and the water ride goes around some exhibits.
Funfairs and animal collections combined aren't a favourite of mine either. Not enough to prevent me visiting altogether, but sufficient to make a lot less visits than other places. FP I've only been to twice- it is very far away. Chessington I've been to many times over the years but I don't much like the place- even the Gorilla enclosure is rather scruffy, and they also have these 'peak day only' opening times for the Zoo part in the winter that coincide just with weekends and school holiday periods, while in summer the only ticket is a blanket one which is offputtingly expensive as its for the whole place, there is no seperate cheaper Zoo ticket. This admission arrangement certainly isn't geared toward the zoo enthusiast.
The third UK zoo/funfair I remember was Belle Vue at Manchester. And Belle Vue Zoo really was good collection-wise, though in miserable surroundings.
Ooh, you used to live at the seaside but are now inland - I'd hate not to live by the seaside. . .
I have abandoned Harewood since it cut back its collection so dramatically and much as I like Lotherton I have not been for two years. I had it on very good (experienced zoo professional) authority the other week that it is not looking its best at the moment.
Actually I agree completely with your first sentence . . . which is why I am moving back to the seaside in Devon (where there are only a few unobtrusive 'amusements' and a National Nature Reserve within a few minutes walk). In the north I used to visit family beside the Dee almost weekly, so I saw sea birds and distant seals very frequently.
I also agree with you about the two bird collections and I haven't visited either in the past 3 years.
If it very milky from chalk,it will mean the water has turned very alkaline, i wonder if this will effect the hippos? I know that the east African lakes etc are alkaline so may be they can live in any type of water.
Our wildlife pond goes very grey if the pump stops working, It isn't filtered just circulated and it clears soon after the pump is restarted
Aha! The water chemistry of East African lakes could be my specialist subject on Mastermind . The great lakes (Malawi, Victoria & Tanganyika) are each rather different but they are all slightly alkaline. This is not enough to deter hippos. Of course hippos will tend to stay in the shallow areas around swamps and river mouths so they can easily leave the water to feed at night. In these areas I would guess that the hippos affect the water quality rather more than it affects the hippos
The soda lakes like Lake Natron would be far too hot and too alkaline for hippos to be comfortable (or even to survive) but there is nothing for them eat nearby either.
Funfairs and animal collections combined aren't a favourite of mine either. Not enough to prevent me visiting altogether, but sufficient to make a lot less visits than other places. FP I've only been to twice- it is very far away. Chessington I've been to many times over the years but I don't much like the place- even the Gorilla enclosure is rather scruffy, and they also have these 'peak day only' opening times for the Zoo part in the winter that coincide just with weekends and school holiday periods, while in summer the only ticket is a blanket one which is offputtingly expensive as its for the whole place, there is no seperate cheaper Zoo ticket. This admission arrangement certainly isn't geared toward the zoo enthusiast.
The third UK zoo/funfair I remember was Belle Vue at Manchester. And Belle Vue Zoo really was good collection-wise, though in miserable surroundings.
I was not keen on Chessington when I visited in 1999. Of course during the season it is very expensive to get into Flamingo Land and many people say to me they wish there was a separate zoo admission. I have made more visits than for a few years this season because I invested in a discounted season ticket in the New Year - I have had £300 of use for my £70 and hope to add some more in December, so it has been money well spent.
Much to my regret I did not visit Belle Vue, I was 15 when it closed and still being ferried to places even if I went in on my own as I did at Flamingo Land and Edinburgh.
Actually I agree completely with your first sentence . . . which is why I am moving back to the seaside in Devon (where there are only a few unobtrusive 'amusements' and a National Nature Reserve within a few minutes walk).
Much to my regret I did not visit Belle Vue, I was 15 when it closed and still being ferried to places even if I went in on my own as I did at Flamingo Land and Edinburgh.
I visited Belle Vue several times. At the time I thought it a very depressing place but after it closed I realised what a gem it was zoologically-speaking, if not the location.
I have all of Clin Keeling's books and magazines about the place, plus a couple of guidebooks that Clin kindly gave me, also two books by Robert Nicholls in addition to "At Home in the Zoo", purchased from the Bartlett Society. All of those make me wish I had been even though I am not keen on very urban areas in general.
