I found his article written in a local newspaper in March 2007 - http://www.crab-line.co.uk/download/crabline115_web.pdf
Here is the aricle in full (excluding photos):
A Lot More To Do Between now and when Cromer’s new Zoo opens, hopefully, in late spring or early summer of this year there is still a lot more to be done. In early February as the first snow arrived, I went along and as well as meeting Jim Irwin-Davis, (pictured below in Plant House) who will be running this new Cromer attraction I had a look around the site, situated between Hall Road and Roughton Road on the Cabbell Manners Estate, 1km south of Cromer Parish Church. As well as being a brilliant location, this venture deserves all the success it should achieve, as it is so well thought out, using tried and tested design methods already used by Ken Sims at the Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Filby, Gt. Yarmouth. In Jim, they have all the experience and knowledge any Zoo could want for, Jim is also a nice guy. Jim, originally from ‘down under’ in New South Wales, moved to the UK in 1966 and first worked with London Zoo, before moving in 1969 to Nigeria.
Over the next 10 years he ran a Zoo, helped with the building of another and then went on to run a Game Reserve, covering some 2,000 square miles. One could say a little larger than these 15 acres in Cromer.
In 1979 Jim returned to Blighty and run a Private Waterfowl Park which was also in involved in breeding numerous breeds of birds in Surrey. Between 1984 and 1988 Jim was the Curator of the Wild Life ‘Al Areen’ Safari Park, in Bahrain, which specialized in desert species. On the 1st Jan 1989, Jim became the Curator of the Harewood House Trust Bird Garden in Yorkshire, with 120 varieties of exotic birds.Last July Jim retired and within weeks was phoned by Ken Sims, to ask if he would look over the possibly of opening a Zoo in Cromer with him.
So much for retirement, as ever since, along with Ken Simms and local District Councillor Benjie Cabbell Manners, they have planted well over a thousand trees, only having to remove two (one of which was already dead) and started to establish a truly English woodland park, despite the fact that this Zoo specializes in South American animals.When this park opens, the entrance, off Hall Road, will lead into a car park lined with trees, with a coach parking area and disabled spaces right next to the Zoo entrance.
From here you will cross an area which will resemble an Amazonian rainforest, before coming to an 90 seat Café overlooking a small lake and a gift shop. These buildings, which will include a large WC block, are built above ground level, so as to not disturb any tree roots, and will have decking everywhere. Other than the pegs in the ground, none of these have been started on, as yet.
One cannot but be mightily impressed with the start they have made on the Jaguar and Puma enclosures. You really feel as though you are standing amongst them, as they do not seem to look at all like cages. They are made of a green mesh material stapled together, hanging from a metal framework.
As Jim commented:
“This is an Ikea flat pack Zoo, as almost everything has been made by the carpenter at Thrigby Hall, flat packed and brought up here. If it has worked there for years, it will work here.”
As you move up through the woods you will see Flamingos around the lake and other animals, too numerous to list, before you reach the Plant House. The approach will be up a gently sloped ramp to enter on the 1st floor, where there will be board-walks across and around crocodiles, giant snakes and an array of different fish, including of course your good old and, not so friendly, piranhas. As well as a waterfall there will be glass observation windows to see all the fish. All this will be surrounded with numerous tropical plants and birds.
Every animal in this Zoo will have come from other English and European Zoos and will be managed under a carefully organised breeding programme. As well as the café and a children’s adventure play area, all set in wonderful surroundings, there will be a large picnic area. At this early stage the educational programmes they will be offering have not been finalized as yet. By all accounts, because of the regular flow of visitors throughout the day, there should not be any sudden increase in traffic, unlike the traffic one experiences after a game at Carrow Road.At this early stage Jim was unable to give me any estimated visitor numbers. To start with they will be open seven days a week during the summer.
In summary, I am mightily impressed by all the thought and imagination that has gone into this new Norfolk asset that will do nothing but add to the attractions that Cromer already has. After spending however long it will take you to enjoy the Zoo, you exit the park via the Roughton Road. May I, on behalf of all our Crab Line readers, wish this new Zoo, a bright and successful future.
Here is the aricle in full (excluding photos):
A Lot More To Do Between now and when Cromer’s new Zoo opens, hopefully, in late spring or early summer of this year there is still a lot more to be done. In early February as the first snow arrived, I went along and as well as meeting Jim Irwin-Davis, (pictured below in Plant House) who will be running this new Cromer attraction I had a look around the site, situated between Hall Road and Roughton Road on the Cabbell Manners Estate, 1km south of Cromer Parish Church. As well as being a brilliant location, this venture deserves all the success it should achieve, as it is so well thought out, using tried and tested design methods already used by Ken Sims at the Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Filby, Gt. Yarmouth. In Jim, they have all the experience and knowledge any Zoo could want for, Jim is also a nice guy. Jim, originally from ‘down under’ in New South Wales, moved to the UK in 1966 and first worked with London Zoo, before moving in 1969 to Nigeria.
Over the next 10 years he ran a Zoo, helped with the building of another and then went on to run a Game Reserve, covering some 2,000 square miles. One could say a little larger than these 15 acres in Cromer.
In 1979 Jim returned to Blighty and run a Private Waterfowl Park which was also in involved in breeding numerous breeds of birds in Surrey. Between 1984 and 1988 Jim was the Curator of the Wild Life ‘Al Areen’ Safari Park, in Bahrain, which specialized in desert species. On the 1st Jan 1989, Jim became the Curator of the Harewood House Trust Bird Garden in Yorkshire, with 120 varieties of exotic birds.Last July Jim retired and within weeks was phoned by Ken Sims, to ask if he would look over the possibly of opening a Zoo in Cromer with him.
So much for retirement, as ever since, along with Ken Simms and local District Councillor Benjie Cabbell Manners, they have planted well over a thousand trees, only having to remove two (one of which was already dead) and started to establish a truly English woodland park, despite the fact that this Zoo specializes in South American animals.When this park opens, the entrance, off Hall Road, will lead into a car park lined with trees, with a coach parking area and disabled spaces right next to the Zoo entrance.
From here you will cross an area which will resemble an Amazonian rainforest, before coming to an 90 seat Café overlooking a small lake and a gift shop. These buildings, which will include a large WC block, are built above ground level, so as to not disturb any tree roots, and will have decking everywhere. Other than the pegs in the ground, none of these have been started on, as yet.
One cannot but be mightily impressed with the start they have made on the Jaguar and Puma enclosures. You really feel as though you are standing amongst them, as they do not seem to look at all like cages. They are made of a green mesh material stapled together, hanging from a metal framework.
As Jim commented:
“This is an Ikea flat pack Zoo, as almost everything has been made by the carpenter at Thrigby Hall, flat packed and brought up here. If it has worked there for years, it will work here.”
As you move up through the woods you will see Flamingos around the lake and other animals, too numerous to list, before you reach the Plant House. The approach will be up a gently sloped ramp to enter on the 1st floor, where there will be board-walks across and around crocodiles, giant snakes and an array of different fish, including of course your good old and, not so friendly, piranhas. As well as a waterfall there will be glass observation windows to see all the fish. All this will be surrounded with numerous tropical plants and birds.
Every animal in this Zoo will have come from other English and European Zoos and will be managed under a carefully organised breeding programme. As well as the café and a children’s adventure play area, all set in wonderful surroundings, there will be a large picnic area. At this early stage the educational programmes they will be offering have not been finalized as yet. By all accounts, because of the regular flow of visitors throughout the day, there should not be any sudden increase in traffic, unlike the traffic one experiences after a game at Carrow Road.At this early stage Jim was unable to give me any estimated visitor numbers. To start with they will be open seven days a week during the summer.
In summary, I am mightily impressed by all the thought and imagination that has gone into this new Norfolk asset that will do nothing but add to the attractions that Cromer already has. After spending however long it will take you to enjoy the Zoo, you exit the park via the Roughton Road. May I, on behalf of all our Crab Line readers, wish this new Zoo, a bright and successful future.
