Cotswold Wildlife Park
51°46′25″N 1°39′15″W / 51.77361°N 1.65417°W
Cotswold Wildlife Park | |
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51°46′25″N 1°39′15″W / 51.77361°N 1.65417°W | |
Date opened | 1970 |
Location | nr Burford, Oxfordshire, England |
Land area | Wildlife Park: 48 acres (0.19 km2), Gardens: 160 acres (0.65 km2) |
No. of species | 260+ (2012) |
Major exhibits | Walled Garden, 'Madagascar', Woodland Walk, Reptile House, Bat House, Insect House, Tropical House, Railway, Adventure Playground. |
Website | cotswoldwildlifepark |
The Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens exhibits over 260 different species of animals. The park is set in 160 acres (0.65 km2) of landscaped parkland and gardens 2 miles south of
Animal exhibits
- Walled Garden houses Oriental small-clawed otters. There is also a collection of small primates, including squirrel monkeys, pygmy marmosets, and emperor tamarins.
- Madagascar, opened in 2008, is a walk-through exhibit which draws attention to the plight of endangered lemur species.Madagascar teal and radiated tortoise are also on show, and were brought into the collection especially for "Madagascar". The breeding record of the lemur collection is very good with the ring-tailed lemurs giving birth regularly since their introduction in 2009, and the red-bellied lemursalso having bred successfully. Lemur feeding and talk is held daily at noon.
- Woodland Walk houses a number of larger animal species from Canadian timber wolves, white-naped cranes and parma wallabies. The entrance to the woodland walk is via a bridge over the lake, which has a wide variety of ducks and Chilean flamingos.
- Large mammals - Large Bactrian camels. Nearby are the park's big cat enclosures which house clouded leopards and Asiatic lions.
- Reptile House, Bat House and Insect House - The Reptile House is home to species such as spiny mice are in the Reptile Courtyard. and nearby are enclosures for siamangs.
- Around the manor house and next to the 600-year-old oak tree outside the orangery, is home to the red pandas. In front of the manor house, next to the rhino paddock, is the Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure. Behind the manor house is the Skymaze adventure playground, picnic area and restaurant.
- Around the railway station includes a variety of birds of prey, such as the great grey owl, snowy owl, and turkey vulture. Nearby is an enclosure for black-and-white colobus. Next to the railway station entrance is the wolverineenclosure. In 2012 the park's wolverines gave birth to the UK's first-ever cubs to be born in captivity. The Park is the only collection in Europe to have successfully bred wolverines.
History
In 1804 the estate's owner William Hervey had the current manor house called Bradwell Grove Manor House designed by
In 1923 the house and estate were purchased by Colonel Heyworth-Savage,
The Walled Garden was originally a kitchen garden, the area now houses the
The manor house now has various roles, with its many rooms being used as visitor areas. The old dining room – still with its original curtains, panelling and fireplace – has become the brass-rubbing centre; the drawing room is used for meetings, exhibitions and conferences; the library is now a bar area; the original kitchen has been turned into a storeroom and a self-contained flat; and other rooms are used as administration and maintenance offices, storerooms and staff accommodation. Even the maze of cellars is used for hibernating certain species from the reptile collection. The old stables and other out-buildings now the reptile and bat houses, classrooms, offices and the quarantine area. The billiard room is now the restaurant kitchen, and its billiard table was turned into the lower tier of the waterfall in the penguin enclosure.[8]
Railway
The Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway (CWP) is a
History
Construction of the railway began in 1974, with the end-to-end line arranged in a horseshoe shape from the current station round the manor house to a second station beside the giant tortoise enclosure. It opened officially on 27 April 1975, with the first passengers carried following an opening ceremony by Dr Desmond Morris.[10]
The original locomotive was a red-liveried steam-outline four-wheel diesel engine. Passengers travelled in bogie carriages of over-sized width, with transverse bench seating, clerestory roofs, and end balconies for loading; the carriages were painted in a two-tone livery of beige and cream.
The coaches were replaced with new vehicles supplied by Alan Keef Ltd, maintaining the original beige livery, with a cream relief band. These new coaches were subsequently upgraded, with new doors. Four coaches are in service - a 20 seat saloon, two with 16 seats and a guard’s compartment, and one with 16 seats plus a wheelchair accessible compartment.
The line was extended and upgraded from 2006-2007, with the track extended between the two stations to complete the circuit, and Bradwell Grove Station extensively rebuilt. The station and the extended line were officially opened by the local MP, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron, on 5 May 2007.
Locomotives
All four locomotives to have operated on the line have been diesel powered, but with steam outline (S/O) appearance, to resemble steam engines. The livery for locomotives, originally red, is currently dark green.
Number | Name | Builder | Date built | Type | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Beaver | Ruston & Hornsby | 1940 (CWP from 1974) |
DM S/O
|
Sold. In New Zealand since 1984. | R&H #202969. View image. |
2 | Oliver | Motor Rail (Simplex) | 1953 (CWP from 1977) |
DM S/O
|
Sold. At BWLR since 2010. | Motor Rail #9869. |
3 | Otis | Alan Keef Ltd | 1985 (Built new for CWP) |
DH S/O
|
Operational. | Refurbished 2023. View image. |
4 | Bella | Alan Keef Ltd | 2003 (Built new for CWP) |
DH S/O
|
Operational. | Primary engine. View image. |
The locomotive Beaver was originally built during World War II for the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply and used to operate trains transporting ammunition on gun ranges and airfields. It was sold in the 1970s and was re-bodied with a steam outline, subsequently serving at Cotswold Wildlife Park from 1974. The engine was withdrawn and sold through Alan Keef Ltd, moving to New Zealand in 1984. The rebuilt engine is still in service, and since 2012 has been at the Blenheim Riverside Railway on South Island, New Zealand.[11]
The locomotive Oliver was originally supplied to the Great Ouse River Authority, Ely, in 1953, where it operated until 1977. The Simplex was then rebodied with a steam outline and named Oliver for use at Cotswold Wildlife Park.[12] The engine eventually fell into disrepair, and arrived at the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway in 2010, where it has been restored to original condition and renamed Bicknor.[12]
The engine Otis was built for Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway (the first purpose-built locomotive) by Alan Keen Ltd in 1985.[13] It returned to the builder in 2023 for a major overhaul, including the replacement of the diesel engine and transmission, and remains in service.
The primary engine is called Bella in memory of one of the original pair of white rhinos at the park, Bella and Bull, which arrived in 1972 from the
Park and gardens
The park is well known for its exotic planting, particularly in the favourable
The exotic birds and animals are complemented by flamboyant planting schemes. The South Terrace has been given a period feel, although in fact the terrace,
Bamboo is a particular favourite at the park, with over fifty varieties planted. They are cut regularly for browse for the animals. The bamboo grows well here because of regular mulching of rhino manure. There is prairie-style planting around the rhino paddock to echo the African plains. The remains of a huge
Conservation
As of October 2006, the Cotswold Wildlife Park holds 40 species, which are part of either an ESB (European
Gallery
All photographs were taken in the park.
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Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)
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Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii)
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White-naped crane (Grus vipio)
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Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
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Southern lapwing (Vanellus chinensis)
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Brown wood-owl(Strix leptogrammica)
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Black stork (Ciconia nigra)
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Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
References
- ^ "Cotswold Wildlife Park". UK Zoo Directory. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- ^ "News: Madagascar Coming". Cotswold Wildlife Park website. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- ^ "Bradwell Grove Manor House, Oxfordshire, England genealogy project". geni_family_tree. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Heyworth". geni_family_tree. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Heyworth_R F_9337". ww2.householdcavalrymemorial.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "The Gardens". Cotswold Wildlife Park. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "A Little Piece of History". Cotswold Wildlife Park website. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- ^ "Tourist and Enthusiast Railways - West Midlands". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Wild Talk 2020: 50 Years Young" (PDF). Cotswold Wildlife Park. 2020. p. 9. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Ruston & Hornsby 'Beaver'". Blenheim Riverside Railway. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Diesel Locos". Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway. p. No.12 Bicknor. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Lorah, Education and Activities Officer (2023). "WORD FROM THE WILD: The Latest News From The Park - Extra, extra". Cotswold Wildlife Park. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "White Rhino Born at Cotswold Wildlife Park". Zoo Borns. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2020.