Bristol Zoo (Closed) National Wildlife Conservation Park
- Thread starter Gentle Giant
- Start date
It seems fairly pointless speculating about this place, sadly, since their appears to be no progress at all! When the latest plans were released about 5 years ago the opening was 2012, possibly earlier before i saw them. Then it was put back to 2015, yet still no release stating a potential start date for building(that i'm aware of anyway).
And from tomorrow 2015 is only two years off- so that projected date now seems unlikely too, seeing as still no work has begun. A great shame as I feel Bristol Zoo is one organisation that would make a quality job of such an enterprise if/when it ever happens.
Visit Bristol's newest attraction | The Wild Place Project so is this the place? I've been out of the zoochat loop for quite a while now and I stumbled across this?
I can't find it? Did it open with any of the original plans? i take it there's no Manatee's
It's called Wild Place and was nowhere near as epic as originally planned, still a worthwhile hour to double it up with Bristol zoo. They still have plans in place (including recently adding wolves) so hopefully they will have their manatees one day.
I can't find it? Did it open with any of the original plans? i take it there's no Manatee's
Wild Place threads are here: The Wild Place Forums
It's very much embryonic for now, but it's a pleasant place.
I can't find it? Did it open with any of the original plans? i take it there's no Manatee's
Wild Place had to open when it did despite not having the major funding it needed for its original plans, for one reason because they might have lost their license to keep wild animals on the site if they hadn't done so when they did. This is due to the length of time it had been unused. I believe when the Conservation Park was planned there was some opposition by the local(Almondsbury) council to revoke the license on these grounds as though it is Bristol Zoo's country estate, it had been virtually mothballed for many years. So the Zoo were forced to either 'use it, or lose it'
So they've opened in a very simplified form using a few species from the Zoo plus some others- wolves being the latest. It could well develop along the lines originally intended in the future though- if money becomes available.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well if what they have done so far is anything to go by a very bright one!!
Bristol has never been a poor Zoo financially, even if they lack the funds to create a ready-made big new park at Hollywood out of nothing. Whether Wild Place develops slowly, or gets faster, I expect the same high standards as the Zoo will still be in place. When it finally gets on its feet properly with more major species, I would expect it to very much put Noah's Ark in the shade.
More than a wee bit in da shade … (that is)!
I expect that if and when we re-read the end 2012 quips on here and see the realities on the ground with the park, we will all be happy the outcome and progress made was better than they ever thought possible.
I am not sure what sort of attendance they currently get off the NCWP site, but give it a few more attractions along the lines of wolves, red river hogs et al and I am sure it will pick up before long.
I expect that if and when we re-read the end 2012 quips on here and see the realities on the ground with the park, we will all be happy the outcome and progress made was better than they ever thought possible.
I am not sure what sort of attendance they currently get off the NCWP site, but give it a few more attractions along the lines of wolves, red river hogs et al and I am sure it will pick up before long.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
They had 35,000 visitors since they did the soft opening in July 2013 to the end of December in the same year,which is pretty good given that they only did any publicity in the local area!!More than a wee bit in da shade … (that is)!
I expect that if and when we re-read the end 2012 quips on here and see the realities on the ground with the park, we will all be happy the outcome and progress made was better than they ever thought possible.
I am not sure what sort of attendance they currently get off the NCWP site, but give it a few more attractions along the lines of wolves, red river hogs et al and I am sure it will pick up before long.
I don't know any other UK place that has such easy and quick access from a Motorway either...
Knowsley? Twycross?
No, the Wild Place is less than a minute from the M5 junction 17 (Cribbs Causeway).
Alan
Note added in proof: I drove around that Motorway roundabout today. The Wild Place sign says it is 150 yards from the exit.
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IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Marwell is pretty close to the junction of the M3/A34, but how close I don't know. Is Bristol advertising the park at Cribbs Causeway?
Marwell is about a 10 minute drive from the M3 and there are several other places that require similar driving times along lesser roads from motorway/major roads e.g Whipsnade, Woburn, Howletts, Port Lympne, Hamerton. But I guess none are as close to one as Wild Place.
It does always depend from where you are travelling though, Wild Place wouldn't be particularly accessible to me, as i'd be approaching from the wrong side of Bristol.
I don't know about Knowsley, having never been there. Twycross is probably second only to Wild Place, its definately always been one of the easiest places to get to.