Animal Encounters

Animal Encounters

What is it? 

Interactions with animals can vary immensely; they can range from big establishments with no animal contact such as zoos, small animals at a farm park. 

What does it involve?

The basis of all encounters with animals is to interact with them! Sometimes it may be from a distance to ensure safety on both sides, but you can often get up close; you can train and even ride some animals.

Why do it and what are the benefits?

Spending time with animals has been proven to be beneficial in many aspects of life and development - it can teach things such as compassion, responsibility, and discipline for both yourself and others. 

What equipment do we need?

Depending on what sort of animal encounter it is, the equipment involved will vary. For example, riding a horse requires a lot more specialist equipment than stroking a cat! Make sure to check with your destination to see if you need to bring anything. 

Who is it suitable for?

Animal encounters are suitable for pretty much anyone - always be careful with smaller children though, as they may not understand how to handle them properly. 

Costs?

Can vary from free to reasonably expensive. Grounds that are open to the public and free to enter can often have wildlife roaming around to admire, but more extravagant establishments such as zoos with many more animals will undoubtedly cost more!

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Be aware of allergies when it comes to animal encounters; although mild allergies are much more common, the risk of a student having a severe reaction means you should exercise caution if there is going to be physical contact with an animal. 

How do we include?

It will depend entirely on the type of animal encounter, but in general these kinds of activities will be great to include all students in, as everyone can interact with an animal in some manner. 

Doing it abroad?

The variety of animals abroad will often vary greatly from our own, and encountering them can be a once in a lifetime opportunity! Foreign nature and safari parks can be great places to visit, so make sure to check out your destination thoroughly to see if there's one you can take a trip to.  

Main website: 

Check out individual websites for specific information on what's available for you to do!

 

See the list below for venues and providers who deliver this activity:

Marley Common

Coconut-scents, purple heather and intimate woodland walks
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Coconut-scents, purple heather and intimate woodland walks

 

Marley Common in West Sussex, is a mixed broadleaf woodland and open heath. It's one of our oldest countryside acquisitions, having its centenary in 2011.

The Common has had an interesting past: it was used as an army training ground during the Second World War, and during the 1950s and 1960s it suffered terrible fires which swept across the open heath. This later period was also the time when grazing ceased on Marley and the common soon became overgrown with scrub and trees.

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Harmony Garden

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Nestling in the pretty Borders town of Melrose, with enviable views of majestic Melrose Abbey, is Harmony House and Garden.

The handsome Georgian villa looks out onto a beautifully tended garden of smart croquet lawns, colourful, scented flowerbeds, fruits and vegetables.

The house, part of the Trust’s Connoisseurs’ Collection of self-catering rental properties, is considered by many to be the finest example of a Georgian townhouse in Scotland. The walled gardens are lush and secluded, giving visitors the sense of entering a private space.

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Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Set in over 28 acres of spectacular, sub tropical gardens within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park,has been giving great enjoyment to its customers for 27 years.

The Park is an independently family run business that relies solely on the income from its customers to look after its animals, maintain the beauty of the park and make improvements every year.

Our aim is to give our customers a wonderful experience, surrounded by natural beauty, gorgeous animals, dinosaurs and lots of fun and enjoyment.

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Beale Park

The place to be with fun, adventure, animals, gardens, play and activities on the banks of the picturesque River Thames
Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Space, fresh air, tranquility, fun, adventure, enchanting animals, exotic beauty and all this on the banks of the magical Thames. New Bertie's Bugs and Beasts exhibit!

Popular favourites include: Ring-tailed lemurs, wallabies, meerkats, raccoons, prairie dogs, yellow mongoose, river hogs, monkeys, goats and numerous small mammals in their Pet's Corner. Plus the new Bertie's Bugs and Beasts exhibit, with all things creepy and crawley!

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Africa Alive

A Walking Safari Set In 100 Acres
Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

The Park is home to more than 80 species of animals from around Africa - including the fastest mammal, the tallest mammal and the biggest bird in the world!

We are the perfect destination for an exciting and educational visit for all ages!

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Lavington Common

A rare pocket of openness amongst plantation woodland
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Lavington Common is a rare survivor of an open landscape that once stretched across the Weald. Its sandy soil leads up to the chalk escarpment on the South Downs, creating this renowned lowland heath, rich in lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts).

Heathers flourish here providing shelter and breeding grounds for reptiles and heathland insects such as the Green Tiger Beetle.

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Holywell and Crantock

Unspoilt golden, sandy beaches, estuary and sandy grassland surprisingly close to Newquay
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

For its sheer diversity of landscape, this relatively small stretch of Cornwall's north coast is hard to beat. Only a stone's throw from the popular seaside resort of Newquay, Holywell to Crantock offers you a haven of beaches, common land and coastline to explore.

Exposed rocky headlands sit alongside spectacular sandy beaches, perfect for surfing or making sandcastles.

Discover the hidden gem that is Porth Joke, a small cove that remains untouched by commercialism.

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Kenilworth Common

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

A registered common, the last fragment of a much larger area of open land that existed some hundreds of years ago.

Once an area of heathland, the Common has developed into an area of oak and birch woodland. However, remnants of the old heathland character remain, particularly on and close to the railway embankments. These areas provide a valuable habitat for plants like ling heather, gorse and heath bedstraw as well as refuge for reptiles such as the common lizard and adder.

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Haresfield Beacon and Standish Wood

A superb Cotswold landscape of mixed woodland and open grassland with extensive views
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Occupying a prominent position on three spurs on the Cotswold escarpment, there are views across the Severn estuary towards the Forest of Dean and Brecon Beacons. With its dramatic topography, intimate woodlands, extensive grasslands and exposed and wild promontory hill fort the estate offers a variety of contrasting experiences.

The Cotswold Way National Trail runs through the entire estate and there are miles of tracks, so whether you enjoy walking, horse riding or mountain biking, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

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The Living Rainforest

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Discover the rainforest's wonders as you stroll between tropical trees and plants, among free roaming butterflies and birds. An outdoor play area allows kids to let off steam, while adults can relax on the sun terrace with a cappuccino. All weather attraction with on site parking, cafe and shop.

On your visit, look out for free roaming lizards, birds and butterflies, you never know where they will appear next! See some of the world's most popular foods, from bananas to coffee, cocoa and ginger as well as plants that have changed the way we live today.

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