The Zoos of Great Britain and Ireland

Maguari said:
3 of my four choices yet to appear so I guess one is missing out altogether (Whipsnade is the one we have seen!).
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Likewise, but my showing is Hamerton. Got a feeling at least one of my choices will be second (Cotswold), and that Chester will probably walk away with the crown.

*As an aside my other two votes went to Dudley and Exmoor since Birmingham isn't in the book! ;)
 
Brum said:
Got a feeling at least one of my choices will be second (Cotswold), and that Chester will probably walk away with the crown.
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I'd be very surprised if these two aren't the missing two - but democracy is unpredictable. :D

(my last vote was Slimbridge, but could have been any of about five..!)
 
Although I love Highland, and made a special trip there twice in my life so far, it doesn't rank as one of the best for me. Eagerly awaiting the top zoos now!
 
Mo Hassan said:
Although I love Highland, and made a special trip there twice in my life so far, it doesn't rank as one of the best for me. Eagerly awaiting the top zoos now!
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Highland Wildlife Park really is an extraordinary choice for the 3rd favourite zoo in Great Britain. It is a zoological facility that doesn't have very many species (35 or so?), is partly a drive-through, and only 170,000 people visit each year. Yet, it is extremely popular amongst zoo nerds and therefore is a prime example of favourite over best. Kudos to HWP!
 
The list continues:

#1 - Will be revealed tomorrow (Chester?)
#2 - Cotswold Wildlife Park
#3 - Highland Wildlife Park
#4 - Bristol
#5 - Whipsnade
#6 - Hamerton
#7 - London
#8 - Yorkshire Wildlife Park
#9 - Colchester
#10 - Edinburgh
#11 - Jersey
#12 - Paignton
#13 - Dublin

No place in the baker's dozen for Marwell, Slimbridge, Howletts, Dudley, Twycross...
 
snowleopard said:
Highland Wildlife Park really is an extraordinary choice for the 3rd favourite zoo in Great Britain. It is a zoological facility that doesn't have very many species (35 or so?), is partly a drive-through, and only 170,000 people visit each year. Yet, it is extremely popular amongst zoo nerds and therefore is a prime example of favourite over best. Kudos to HWP!
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Mind you, I reckon a pretty good argument *can* be made for HWP being one of the very best zoos in Great Britain :P the questions of size and scale make it harder to form fully-balanced comparisons, of course, but it really does hit WAY over its perceived weight where quality is concerned.
 
The list is now complete:

#1 - Chester
#2 - Cotswold Wildlife Park
#3 - Highland Wildlife Park
#4 - Bristol
#5 - Whipsnade
#6 - Hamerton
#7 - London
#8 - Yorkshire Wildlife Park
#9 - Colchester
#10 - Edinburgh
#11 - Jersey
#12 - Paignton
#13 - Dublin

The #1 zoo (Chester) received almost twice as many votes as the #2 zoo (Cotswold), which clearly illustrates that the U.K. has an incredible #1 zoo that far exceeds any other in terms of popularity. It would be interesting to see such a list a decade ago, as Highland Wildlife Park, Hamerton and Yorkshire Wildlife Park wouldn't be so prominent. Edinburgh and Jersey would perhaps be much higher, with other candidates being zoos such as Marwell and Howletts although they have both fallen by the wayside.

In terms of its animal collection and size, it's a bit surprising to see Colchester in the 9th slot. Also, London Zoo has an amazingly rich history but to see it in the #7 position is almost a little sad.
 
snowleopard said:
It would be interesting to see such a list a decade ago, as Highland Wildlife Park, Hamerton and Yorkshire Wildlife Park wouldn't be so prominent. Edinburgh and Jersey would perhaps be much higher, with other candidates being zoos such as Marwell and Howletts although they have both fallen by the wayside.
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Hamerton and YWP definitely wouldn't have done quite as well, and in fact I suspect YWP wouldn't have even hit the top 30 or so; conversely I reckon that even in 2011 Highland Wildlife Park had a very high reputation among zoo-enthusiasts however.

Definitely agree that Edinburgh and Jersey would have been higher though.
 
I have seen a list of all the UK zoos listed for this book and it is a big shame that Manor House near Tenby won't be in it.
 
James Barber said:
I have seen a list of all the UK zoos listed for this book and it is a big shame that Manor House near Tenby won't be in it.
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Ah, but is Manor House one of the 50 best or most historically notable in the country? From all I've heard it's solidly unexceptional in both regards - not bad, but not standing out either.
 
An interesting question might be - what is the best zoo NOT included in the 51?

Axe Valley, Hoo, Birmingham are possibilities I would suggest, I've never been to Manor House so can't really comment on that .....
 
Manor House was one zoo I used to go to on my holidays to Tenby in the 90s and thought it was pretty much run down then with small old enclosures (especially in the walled gardens), old fairground rides etc.

The place has done well I think since Anna and family brought the zoo by adding in natural enclosures for primates, walkthroughs for Lemurs and Wallabies, bringing in Rhinos, Tigers, Warty Pigs and Red Pandas. They took out the old fair rides, model railway, reptile house, and shut off the walled gardens etc.

I often wonder what will be next for Manor House and I would love to know the history on the zoo too.
 
pipaluk said:
Axe Valley, Hoo, Birmingham are possibilities I would suggest, I've never been to Manor House so can't really comment on that .....
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Birmingham is definitely a contender I reckon, as are Scottish Owl Centre and a few other specialist collections.
 
pipaluk said:
An interesting question might be - what is the best zoo NOT included in the 51?

Axe Valley, Hoo, Birmingham are possibilities I would suggest, I've never been to Manor House so can't really comment on that .....
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Axe Valley is right up there for me, for sheer charm, and unusual species. Potto and more small carnivores than you can shake a stick at.
 
pipaluk said:
Book arrived today, ironically on the same day as the izes magazine!
Haven't had a chance to read it properly, but the book appears to be everything I'd hoped for!
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I received IZES magazine today too (great read as always):), but no zoo book yet:(
 
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