Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2019

SHAVINGTONZOO said:
There may well be some sort of "wayleave" requirement to allow access to the pylons and wiring.
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It's interesting to note that these power lines were moved here at the request of Mr Mottershead. Beyond the Zoo boundary. They were originally sited in 'animal enclosure' > Ape House > Realm of the Red Ape. I'll see if I can find old pics showing them. Perhaps an opportunity to re-site again now using the new style less intrusive UK 'T'- Pylons?
First new pylon type constructed
 
North Entrance said:
It's interesting to note that these power lines were moved here at the request of Mr Mottershead. Beyond the Zoo boundary. They were originally sited in 'animal enclosure' > Ape House > Realm of the Red Ape. I'll see if I can find old pics showing them.
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There was also a much more recent offer from the managing power company to bury the cables and remove the current pylons which was turned down by the zoo.

I have some old zoo archive photographs of a smaller type of pylon in a large paddock containing cattle (unsure of the species). There are buildings in the background but it's so old I'm having a hard time placing them. There are also a number of images showing much larger pylons behind the original (1940s) bison paddock, which may follow the same course as the ones today. If you can dig out your old images, we can try to match them, but there were at least two lines.
 
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SMR said:
There was also a much more recent offer from the managing power company to bury the cables and remove the current pylons which was turned down by the zoo.
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Why was it turned down- because the zoo would have to pay for the work?
 
Eventually this area will expand and a new full area will exist, as they have extended the parimater fence for future exhibits. Think the lions needed a new home and zoo wants to delevope the area around there old home and the lions don't like the noise.
 
taun said:
There will most certainly be a safe zone around them, not just for construction but for permanent features.
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I was thinking that, but currently directly under the power lines are three rhino paddocks, the coach parking, the main entrance pathway, part of the shop and some of the off-show elephant yard.
Pertinax said:
Why was it turned down- because the zoo would have to pay for the work?
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I believe the cost was small, but that the offer was turned down because the zoo had no plans to extend in that direction (pre Heart of Africa). It was after Mr. Mottershead passed away, as I'm sure he'd have jumped at the chance.
jde7582 said:
Eventually this area will expand and a new full area will exist, as they have extended the parimater fence for future exhibits.
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The new perimeter fence follows the same line as in the 2010 Heart of Africa master-plan.

Speaking of, now that I've looked, had Heart of Africa been built the power lines would have remained. They're not on the 3D renders but are on the location plans. Sad to think the entrance to the new lion enclosure is pretty much where the entrance to Heart of Africa would've been.
 
SMR said:
I was thinking that, but currently directly under the power lines are three rhino paddocks, the coach parking, the main entrance pathway, part of the shop and some of the off-show elephant yard.
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Forgot about those, in my line of work not had to deal with overhead pylons for a few years.

Maybe that space will be backfilled with enclosures?
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
There may well be some sort of "wayleave" requirement to allow access to the pylons and wiring.
Click to expand...

See attached. The area plans show this area is limited to a build height of 5.3m, which might make fencing for big cats an issue.

In a way im glad heart of africa was ditched, it seemed like a really expensive way of exhibiting gorillas and chimps that could be done as effectively for a tenth the cost. The millenium style dome just seemed excessive to me.

Maybe CZ could expand this new lion area on a Gir Forest/Indian forests theme like london zoo's.
 

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leiclad20 said:
See attached. The area plans show this area is limited to a build height of 5.3m, which might make fencing for big cats an issue.

In a way im glad heart of africa was ditched, it seemed like a really expensive way of exhibiting gorillas and chimps that could be done as effectively for a tenth the cost. The millenium style dome just seemed excessive to me.

Maybe CZ could expand this new lion area on a Gir Forest/Indian forests theme like london zoo's.
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I was really looking forward to it, it would have hopefully shown you don't need a barren indoor housing for apes.
 
leiclad20 said:
See attached. The area plans show this area is limited to a build height of 5.3m, which might make fencing for big cats an issue.

In a way im glad heart of africa was ditched, it seemed like a really expensive way of exhibiting gorillas and chimps that could be done as effectively for a tenth the cost. The millenium style dome just seemed excessive to me.

Maybe CZ could expand this new lion area on a Gir Forest/Indian forests theme like london zoo's.
Click to expand...

So, ideal for small mammals ... ;)
 
leiclad20 said:
See attached. The area plans show this area is limited to a build height of 5.3m, which might make fencing for big cats an issue.
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The eaves of Spirit of the Jaguar are 4.5 meters above the enclosure, and it was once joked that it could contain a T-Rex.

I was looking forward to Heart of Africa too, it would certainly have had that "wow" factor... and I like London's lion theming!
 
pipaluk said:
Please nothing like London Zoo?! I'm sure Chester can do better than that!
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The published plans are illustrated with photos from the Gir Forest and the planting is described as 'trees at irregular spaces to form sparse, light woodland cover; groups of predominantly evergreen shrubs to block view where desired; scented shrubs for animal enrichment . . . Ground flora to be low native grasses.'
That seems OK to me. Although it will take some time for the planting to look presentable. The Indian cart in the indoor quarters worries me a little, but I trust there will not be a flip-flop stall!
 
gentle lemur said:
The Indian cart in the indoor quarters worries me a little, but I trust there will not be a flip-flop stall!
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That stall in the street market area at London is the biggest downer along with the shop fronts, it is just awful imo and that of plenty of others! No flip-flops, Chester please read this!!
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
There may well be some sort of "wayleave" requirement to allow access to the pylons and wiring.
Click to expand...

A line of pylons crosses what was my families farm. The original (smaller) ones were replaced with large ones of the same design maybe 40 years ago. There was never (and still isnt) anything on the ground under them to prevent animal or human access, just some barbed wire anti-climb overhangs several metres off the ground. But yes, the National Grid has permanent access over the ground the line of pylons runs on, which is shown on ordinance survey maps. They would retain identical access if the cables were relocated underground.
 
Andrew Swales said:
But, my point was it is not 'free', as the local water authority has charged the pub/restaurant/cafe/zoo for it. All this law or 'right' does is prevent the establishment from visibly charging for it at the point of supply. They will still have charged for it - as their incoming water costs will have been incorporated in the general cost of their products and/or services. The charge will have been paid by all of their customers including those who did not use it, and hidden from those who thought somehow it was 'free'....
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...I thought of this discussion on a visit to Marwell, yesterday. Excellent that 'free' water supplies are made available to visitors. I can't imagine this set-up was inexpensive to install, however...

full
 
sooty mangabey said:
...I thought of this discussion on a visit to Marwell, yesterday. Excellent that 'free' water supplies are made available to visitors. I can't imagine this set-up was inexpensive to install, however...

full
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Great to see. Chester (Please Sir, can I have some water) [After queuing for 30 minutes at a cafe on a busy day] needs to remedy this shameful situation asap.
 
sooty mangabey said:
... I can't imagine this set-up was inexpensive to install, however...
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I think it will more than pay for itself in the time not spent by foodsellers filling bottles and reducing some time and frustration in long lines.

I bet there will eventually be more popping up, however, as everyone won't want to go all the way back to that one spot!
 
Unsure if this has even been mentioned here but I talked to somebody a year ago who claimed that Javan leopards were part of the future plans for the zoo as told in a talk at the zoo about their future developments. Has this even been known to anybody else since because I have not seen it mentioned elsewhere.
 
PaleoMatt said:
Unsure if this has even been mentioned here but I talked to somebody a year ago who claimed that Javan leopards were part of the future plans for the zoo as told in a talk at the zoo about their future developments. Has this even been known to anybody else since because I have not seen it mentioned elsewhere.
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You spoke to someone about it, or you saw a video which you drew the conclusion from?

Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2019 [Chester Zoo]
 
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