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:

Lisnabreeny

A picturesque walk from wooded glen to hilltop rath
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Lisnabreeny takes in wooded glen, estate and green field to the summit of the Castlereagh hills on the edge of east Belfast.

The path hugs the sides of Cregagh glen as it climbs through pools of sunlight cast by the trees. You’ll hear the waterfall, but also keep an eye out for the carpets of bluebell and wood anemone in spring.

Near the top of the glen, pause a moment at the memorial marking a temporary graveyard for American servicemen during the second world war.

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Threave Estate

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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The estate is split into four main elements:

Threave House, a restored Scottish baronial-style house;

Threave Garden, made up of landscaped gardens and themed 'rooms';

Threave Sculpture Garden, containing over 30 works by Scottish sculptors; and

Threave Nature Reserve, featuring landscape ranging from wetlands to woodlands.

Please contact the Ranger service for further information.

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Isle of Wight Zoo

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Our zoo has a variety of animals, but we specialise in two particular areas - tigers and lemurs. Our keepers have their own specific sections, which allows them to get to know the personalities of the animals in their care very well. Why not explore this section and find out which our of animals are the headstrong type, which are the softies and which like to keep the keepers on their toes?

Or you can find out how the keeper keep the animals on their toes with Environmental Enrichment - activities designed to stimulate natural behaviour. 

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Tŷ Mawr Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Tŷ Mawr Country Park lies on the banks of the River Dee in the beautiful Vale of Llangollen, part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is located adjacent to Cefn Viaduct, built by Thomas Brassey in 1848 to carry the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway across the valley of the River Dee.

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Murlough National Nature Reserve

An extraordinarily beautiful dune landscape
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Murlough National Nature Reserve is a fragile 6000 year old sand dune system owned by the National Trust and managed as Ireland’s first Nature Reserve since 1967.  It is an excellent area for walking and bird watching due to its spectacular location at the edge of Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains.

There is a network of paths and boardwalks through the dunes, woodland and heath from where you will see an array of butterflies and wild flowers, as well as access to one of the finest beaches in Co. Down.

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New Forest Northern Commons

A beautiful sprawling wilderness to explore for retreat and adventure
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

The New Forest Northern Commons comprise of five commons that we care for. Each one is a unique landscape of woodland, heathland, mire and grassland, shaped by man and nature since the Bronze Age.

A thriving working forest, the sense of tradition and rural practices remain today. The beautiful sprawling wilderness offers opportunity for both retreat and adventure. Whether escaping life's ever increasing pace, rambling through open spaces and woodlands with friends and family, or just finding a quiet spot to unwind in.

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Oakwood and Blacklow Spinney

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

A small, mature, mixed broadleaf and conifer woodland oasis in the northern residential suburbs of Warwick, probably originally planted as a shooting wood in the 1920s. Tree species include sweet chestnut, oak, Scots pine and larch with some holly, ash, beech, silver birch and younger elm trees. Planting of hawthorn, hazel, crab apple, rowan, field maple, whitebeam, aspen and hornbeam has taken place more recently.

Bird species recorded within the Spinney include  resident nuthatches and tree creepers, with sparrowhawks, tawny owls and chiff chaffs being regular visitors

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Newtown National Nature Reserve

A quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

This is the only National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight. It is a beautiful retreat that has something to offer boat owners, walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and historians or just those in search of peace and tranquility. You can wander past flower-rich hay meadows, through ancient woodlands with rare butterflies and red squirrels, and look out over salt marsh and the clear waters of the harbour, bobbing with sailing boats in the summer and alive with birds in the spring and winter.

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Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl

The gateway to the Surrey Hills
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Open the gate and step into a colourful mosaic of purple, greens and gold. All is quiet apart from the sounds of nature. Visit and discover why Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

You don’t have to go far to admire the views across the Punch Bowl or venture a bit further and discover the stunning scenery at Highcombe Edge and Gibbet Hill. Gibbet Hill is the second highest point in Surrey with views across the Weald.

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Frensham Little Pond

Bishop's fish pond amidst stunning heathland and abundant wildlife
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Frensham Little Pond and Great Pond were originally created in the 13th century, to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court, whilst visiting Farnham Castle. Today the pond and surrounding area is a sanctuary for wildlife with always something new to see.

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