Chester Zoo Natural Vision Plans

I've been keeping an eye on the planning site where previous developments have been available (UKPlanning.com) but no sign yet.
 
I have it on very good authority that a van full of plans for heart of africa will be arriving at the planning office by the end of this week and should be published on their website by the end of next week - fun times!
 
thezootoday said:
this power point presentation from last november has more plans but may be outdated as they show red river hogs and mandrill in HOA

Do their Mandrills really need a new exhibit. I think the monkey islands are very good already but I suppose they can do as they wish.;)
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Having had a glance through the new edition of the ABWAK journal Ratel, there is an article about Natural Vision from a member of zoo staff. It's clearly a little out of date (refers to planning permission being sought in October 2009) but has some interesting nuggets.

For Heart of Africa, the species listed are Western Lowland Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Pygmy Hippos and Okapi, as well as a 'wetland forest edge' aviary and fish, reptile and invertebrate exhibits. There are some more of the mock-up images which show Bongo as well (and what I'm sure is a Sitatunga).

Although it's cagey about future phases, it does say that the 'Cheshire experience' will include a farm and native species (as well as a Go Ape-style climbing course) and, more interestingly, that the centrepiece of the African Savannah Zone will be 'a hippo exhibit with underwater public viewing'.
 
Maguari said:
Having had a glance through the new edition of the ABWAK journal Ratel, there is an article about Natural Vision from a member of zoo staff. It's clearly a little out of date (refers to planning permission being sought in October 2009) but has some interesting nuggets.

For Heart of Africa, the species listed are Western Lowland Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Pygmy Hippos and Okapi, as well as a 'wetland forest edge' aviary and fish, reptile and invertebrate exhibits. There are some more of the mock-up images which show Bongo as well (and what I'm sure is a Sitatunga).

Although it's cagey about future phases, it does say that the 'Cheshire experience' will include a farm and native species (as well as a Go Ape-style climbing course) and, more interestingly, that the centrepiece of the African Savannah Zone will be 'a hippo exhibit with underwater public viewing'.
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chesire experience will probally be farmy animals, looking at a link somewhere :O
 
Very very interesting & exiting. Interesting to note that all the zoo's large african rainforest mammals have now been mentioned in some form or another as future inhabitants of HOA except for the Congo Buffalo.
 
ZooMania said:
Very very interesting & exiting. Interesting to note that all the zoo's large african rainforest mammals have now been mentioned in some form or another as future inhabitants of HOA except for the Congo Buffalo.
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Very true but from what I have heard they certainely don't have any plans at the moment to get rid of them.
 
SMR said:
Cheshire experience. In a zoo. In Cheshire.

Shame there aren't any farm animals in farms in Cheshire these days. Must be global warming. :rolleyes:
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Its an important link to the local community, were local breeds can be show cased.

Plus I understood they would have some local wildlfe present as well, gives people things to look out for in Cheshire.
 
taun said:
Plus I understood they would have some local wildlfe present as well, gives people things to look out for in Cheshire.
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Yup - as I said above, the Cheshire Experience is planned to have both farm animals and native species.

Chester has a long history of supporting local wildlife projects - notably Barn Owls, Sand Lizards, Northern Water Voles, Harvest Mice and Black Poplar.
 
Maguari said:
Yup - as I said above, the Cheshire Experience is planned to have both farm animals and native species.

Chester has a long history of supporting local wildlife projects - notably Barn Owls, Sand Lizards, Northern Water Voles, Harvest Mice and Black Poplar.
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Oops missed that :o Conservation starts at home, and we need to show that its not just exotic animals that are in treat by our actions.
 
taun said:
Its an important link to the local community, were local breeds can be show cased.
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Endangered native wildlife is fine and the zoo has lots of programs already along these lines, but farm animals and giant climbing frames? I'm not sure how this relates to local communities, when the people of Cheshire can see cows over almost every hedge. I think my biggest concern is that it seems like more of the crazy golf theme, which is generally disliked and doesn't seem particularly popular with visitors.

And of course, there are also places like Stockley's Farm and Reaseheath to visit in the area, both of which I believe are still popular with school trips.
 
SMR said:
I'm not sure how this relates to local communities, when the people of Cheshire can see cows over almost every hedge.
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In fairness, a lot of Chester's visitors come fro Liverpool and Manchester, where cows and sheep are a little thinner on the ground.

And while I share your reservations about the golf and the climbing frame, these kind of things will (I'm sure) be popular with visitors - particularly as Chester will be trying to promote itself not as a day out but a weekend away by the time this is all built.
 
i have noticed some people are starting thinking it won't happen, but maybe due to the current economic climate, it might take a wee bit longer!
 
EvilKittie said:
i have noticed some people are starting thinking it won't happen, but maybe due to the current economic climate, it might take a wee bit longer!
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Last I heard it`s still happening just that for all the new zones to be opened,the chances are that bits of the current zoo that are planned to change under the plan will now be done sooner rather than later.
 
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