New Forest Reptile Centre New Forest Reptile centre.

J

Johnny Morris.

Well-Known Member
Anyone been here? it looks rather interesting and i'm planning on taking it in on my holiday next week.

It has all the native British reptiles, and is free to get in.
 
I visited by chance.

Its all outside and quiet small -takes 30 minutes to get around at most. All the native species-theyr'e kept in pit like areas but theyr'e very spacious for the size of animal and depict the animal's habitat well.

Worth a visit!
 
willtheman45 said:
I visited by chance.

Its all outside and quiet small -takes 30 minutes to get around at most. All the native species-theyr'e kept in pit like areas but theyr'e very spacious for the size of animal and depict the animal's habitat well.

Worth a visit!
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Thanks willtheman45 and welcome to zoo chat.
 
Very good, but you need to go on a warm sunny day if you wan't to guarantee a chance of seeing the animals (the enclosures are large and heavilly planted). It does indeed contain nearly all of the UK's reptiles and amphibians: Grass Snake, Smooth Snake, Adder, Sand Lizard, Common Lizard, Slow Worm, Common Toad, Natterjack Toad, Common Frog, Pool Frog and Palmate Newt. If you want to make you're day longer, look inside the education centre which includes a live camera to a goshawk's nest and take the woodland walk.
 
While your in the area you could also visit the otter and owl centre or Liberty's reptile and raptor centre. Both of which are small but pretty well run collections.
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
While your in the area you could also visit the otter and owl centre or Liberty's reptile and raptor centre. Both of which are small but pretty well run collections.
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Yeah i have spotted these places too. I almost booked the ferry to the isle of wight too to take in the zoo, but the mrs has pointed out that her and the kids don't want to spend all week looking at animals. I don't know what's wrong with them at times.:eek:
 
Well i'm back and i visited the Reptile centre, which i thoroughly enjoyed. I was also very impressed with the Otter and Owl centre. I think the Otter and Owl centre, could benefit by including a similar exhibit as the Reptile centre, in it's own collection.
 
The Otter and Owl Park used to have a collection of british reptiles in the pens that now hold mink, and also a few amphibian species in a vivarium built into one of the 'banks' in the glasshouse (this since been removed, but you can see where it is by making out the frame and glass viewing filled in with mud, it now surrounds a few plants) under the park's previous management as NatureQuest. When I had a discussion with the then-head keeper John Crooks a couple of years ago, he said the simple reason they didn't keep herps anymore was that the manager simply didn't like them.

Had any lynx arrived yet when you visited? They've been expecting a female to replace the late Oden for a while now.
 
Marwell Dalek said:
The Otter and Owl Park used to have a collection of british reptiles in the pens that now hold mink, and also a few amphibian species in a vivarium built into one of the 'banks' in the glasshouse (this since been removed, but you can see where it is by making out the frame and glass viewing filled in with mud, it now surrounds a few plants) under the park's previous management as NatureQuest. When I had a discussion with the then-head keeper John Crooks a couple of years ago, he said the simple reason they didn't keep herps anymore was that the manager simply didn't like them.

Had any lynx arrived yet when you visited? They've been expecting a female to replace the late Oden for a while now.
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Yeah there was a Lynx, though for the life of me i couldn't spot it. It was a very impressive enclosure
 
Indeed, best in the UK or possibly Europe. If she follows Oden's habits she'll be lying in the centre of a rhododendren bush near the visitor path, in which case you'll be able to see her with a bit of ducking and maybe squinting, but as it's a new lynx, it could be absolutely anywhere! So the best time would definately be feeding.
 
Visited today and enjoyed the visit but it is 30 minutes worth at most. I saw a sand llizard, adder and a smooth snake. I also stared really hard at a lot of plants.

Be aware your SatNav may take you somewhere else! Look closely at the maps to see what road to take out of Lyndhurst.
 
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