Adventure awaits! (Butterfly and Wildlife Park)

Member Name: werewolf2

Product:	Butterfly and Wildlife Park
Date:	09/10/06 (345 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: plenty to do in good weather, interesting activities in playground

Disadvantages: less to do if weather bad, grassy areas slippery when wet, need sensible shoes

NAME OF LOCATION: Long Sutton Wildlife and Butterfly Park, off the A17 in Lincolnshire, a short distance from Gedney.

BACKGROUND: My boyfriend Robert and I wanted to go on holiday with his best mate Richard and his girlfriend Michelle so we collected tokens from my parents’ Daily Express for their holiday offer. We then decided we needed a stop off en-route to Gt Yarmouth and this attraction was just over the 2 hour marker from home.

I typed the postcode (PE12 9LE) for this attraction into the AA and RAC route finder websites and got very explicit directions on how to get there.

ATTRACTIONS:
Bird of prey centre, where for a charge of £2 you can have your photograph taken with certain owls – the proceeds go to the upkeep of the birds. Displays of birds flying are held twice daily during the summer and at 2pm in low season.

Adventure playground with sliding swing, which is suitable for adults to try out too. Activities included a wooden castle, with slides, stairs, rope ladders, fireman's pole and tubes to crawl through, and tyre, balance and rope activities suitable for young or old. My boyfriend and his mate (both in their 30’s had plenty of fun trying these out), although if a child wanted them, they let them go first, which I was proud of them for.

Animal centre set over several fields and areas with animals including llamas, pot bellied pigs, water buffalo, sheep, goats, Shetland ponies, guinea pigs, and lots more.

Tropical house, which includes

· An Ant room where you can see ants collecting leaf cuttings and walking along a rope to their home with their food on their backs. Some may find this a little creepy and if you don’t like insects you may feel that they will crawl all over you, but they don’t seem to be bothered by anyone.

· Insectarium, where you can see giant millipedes, snails, and butterfly pupae,

· Reptiles such as Water Dragons, Crocodiles, Snakes, Lizards and Frogs

· Butterflies and birds flying around you and feeding on fruit and flora set out for them. Birds include quail, macaw, parakeet and doves. If you are lucky you may see them mating, flying, or even have them settle on your clothing or fingers, especially the butterflies.

· Fish ponds which house koi carp, goldfish and some even have turtles or tortoises in them.

Wildflower walks are also available.

Crazy golf and ride on tractors were available for an additional charge, as well as a children’s play area (free to use) and although we didn’t have any children with us, we did utilise these adventure play ground facilities.

There was a tearoom, gift shop, and decent toilet block on site.

TRANSPORT: We used our own cars to travel down to Great Yarmouth and there was a decent sized car park (on grass) near to the Bird of Prey display arena.

2006 OPENING TIMES: March 18-July 2nd 10am to 5pm, July 3rd-September 10th 10am to 5.30pm and September 11th to October 29th 10am to 4pm. Note last admission is 1 hour before closing times.

PRICE: It cost £5.70 per person for entry to the wildlife park, which included entry to the butterfly area, birds of prey centre, insectarium, adventure playground, and animal enclosures.

OAPs are charged £5.20 and children aged 3-16 are charged £4.20 and family tickets are available – 2 adults, 2 children is £18 and 2 adults 3 children is £21. All additional children are charged at £3 each. There are season tickets available and group rates available on request.

GOOD POINTS
1. Very helpful staff
2. Great bird of prey display with interesting talk by the falconer.
3. Excellent adventure playground

BAD POINTS
1. Slippery when wet as mainly on grass – paths are not gravelled or tarmac, so take care and wear sensible shoes.
2. Car park can get waterlogged and may be difficult to get on/off in inclement weather.

AFTERWARDS
Go home and plan where to go next year!

MORE INFORMATION FROM

Long Sutton Butterfly and Wildlife Park (Tel 01406 363833 Fax 01406 363182). Website - www.buterflyandwildlifepark.co.uk

Directions: Follow brown signs from A17 nr A101, if coming from Boston before Sutton Bridge and after Gedney, and if coming from Kings Lynn after Sutton Bridge and before Gedney

Summary: Great place to visit for a day or a few hours