Sleepy Hollow Farm Park Sleepy Hollow Farm Park
- Thread starter jacks zoo
- Start date
mhale
Well-Known Member
I visited Sleepy Hollow ten years ago whilst on holiday in the area, and have uploaded the four photos I took to the United Kingdom - Other gallery. Sorry there weren't any more than that.
There were several big cats kept in a barn, as well as outdoor enclosures for the farm animals, raccoons, coatis, ring-tailed lemurs, otters etc. There was a wooded walk at the top of the field.
I have found the following paragraph about the park:
"Turn left on the B4479, then almost at once fork right towards Draycott, and Sleepy Hollow Farm Park. Excellent value, and nicely unspoilt and friendly, this 25-acre farm park has especially good informative talks and displays throughout the day. A highlight is the Big Cat demonstration at 3pm, when a mixture of animals not currently shown in the park's main enclosures are brought out by keepers who've clearly established a terrific bond with the beasts. You can arrange to meet a cub, a unique opportunity that helps the animals get used to meeting different people. Other sessions standing out are the raccoon and pig feeding sessions, the otter playtime, and snake encounter; times vary, but are posted by the entrance. They also have a calendar of events that takes in sheep shearing, fun days, and guest visits from wolves and tiny stallions. The main enclosures are particularly strong on pigs, with ring-tailed lemurs, deer and bagot goats added last year, and plenty of sheep, waterfowl, and other creatures. You can walk in some of the enclosures (lambs, chickens, and some of the goats), and there may be shire horse cart rides in the main season (weather permitting, 50p extra). If you want to feed any of the animals, they sell special pellets (30p a bag). Best to bring wellies if it's rained recently, though some of the talks are indoors. Not overly developed - and all the better for that - this is the kind of place where asking questions can really pay off: the helpful staff are very enthusiastic about their subject. There's a picnic area, with play equipment aimed at younger children, and nice walks in the surrounding woodland - particularly when the bluebells are out. Animal-minded families can happily spend up to half a day here (longer if it's hard to drag young children away from the indoor pet area), quite a bargain considering how low the admission is. Snacks, shop; cl mid Nov-mid Mar; (01386) 701264; *£2.95 (children 3-15 £1.60)."
Hope this helps.
There were several big cats kept in a barn, as well as outdoor enclosures for the farm animals, raccoons, coatis, ring-tailed lemurs, otters etc. There was a wooded walk at the top of the field.
I have found the following paragraph about the park:
"Turn left on the B4479, then almost at once fork right towards Draycott, and Sleepy Hollow Farm Park. Excellent value, and nicely unspoilt and friendly, this 25-acre farm park has especially good informative talks and displays throughout the day. A highlight is the Big Cat demonstration at 3pm, when a mixture of animals not currently shown in the park's main enclosures are brought out by keepers who've clearly established a terrific bond with the beasts. You can arrange to meet a cub, a unique opportunity that helps the animals get used to meeting different people. Other sessions standing out are the raccoon and pig feeding sessions, the otter playtime, and snake encounter; times vary, but are posted by the entrance. They also have a calendar of events that takes in sheep shearing, fun days, and guest visits from wolves and tiny stallions. The main enclosures are particularly strong on pigs, with ring-tailed lemurs, deer and bagot goats added last year, and plenty of sheep, waterfowl, and other creatures. You can walk in some of the enclosures (lambs, chickens, and some of the goats), and there may be shire horse cart rides in the main season (weather permitting, 50p extra). If you want to feed any of the animals, they sell special pellets (30p a bag). Best to bring wellies if it's rained recently, though some of the talks are indoors. Not overly developed - and all the better for that - this is the kind of place where asking questions can really pay off: the helpful staff are very enthusiastic about their subject. There's a picnic area, with play equipment aimed at younger children, and nice walks in the surrounding woodland - particularly when the bluebells are out. Animal-minded families can happily spend up to half a day here (longer if it's hard to drag young children away from the indoor pet area), quite a bargain considering how low the admission is. Snacks, shop; cl mid Nov-mid Mar; (01386) 701264; *£2.95 (children 3-15 £1.60)."
Hope this helps.
The big cats did not belong to Sleepy Hollow and were not kept there permanently. They were supplied to the place for short periods during the summer months (I am not even sure that they stayed there overnight). Wolves and reptiles (including large alligators) were exhibited under a similar arrangement.
I'd be most interested to see a photo of their Orangutan accomodation.
I'd be most interested to see a photo of their Orangutan accomodation.
jacks zoo
Well-Known Member
Are you sure they have kept Orangutans at some time? I can find no evidence/records for this anywhere.
Yes there was an Orangutan there. I think only ever a single male (though I could be wrong) that went to Dudley after Sleepy Hollow's closure. He then went to Jersey. I think he originally came from a private keeper in Essex.
For a good while after his? arrival he lived in 8ft sq cage (if not smaller) inside a barn. Which is where i saw him. He spent almost all his time in large water butt with a childs plastic chair. I dont know if he sat on the chair inside the barrel. But that was about it for furnishings. Later a larger cage was built, which i never saw but have been told had a small indoor area and small outdoor area. He was never on display to the public. I believe he went on to Dudley Zoo.
People could go in with the tigers not only when they were cubs but as full grown adults. I never went in but know people who did.
Sleepy Hollow was a nice farm park with Shire horses and other domestic animals, rare breeds of ducks and chickens etc. It changed with the move into exotics, leopards,tigers,wolves,orang utan,otters and others which generated increased opposition from local residents especially after the lynx and porcupines got out.
People could go in with the tigers not only when they were cubs but as full grown adults. I never went in but know people who did.
Sleepy Hollow was a nice farm park with Shire horses and other domestic animals, rare breeds of ducks and chickens etc. It changed with the move into exotics, leopards,tigers,wolves,orang utan,otters and others which generated increased opposition from local residents especially after the lynx and porcupines got out.
okay, that is 'Dagu'. He was indeed owned privately and outside the jurisdiction of studbook keepers etc otherwise its likely they wouldn't have been allowed to have him.
Life got a lot better for him after he went to Jersey- he's now their breeding male.