Find the nearest Animals & Wildlife

The Isle of Wight Zoo specialises in the care and conservation of big cats and Madagascan animals. It is situated at Yaverland near the sea and the staff are really friendly and encourage visitors to participate as much as possible. Offering a close encounter with a big cat is a brilliant way to get people to appreciate these gorgeous creatures and have a once in a lifetime experience with tigers or a lemur. The zoo also offers tours which are a big success. The friendly guides help you explore the zoo, stopping off to meet the zoo keepers who introduce you to their animals. These are the people who will be able to tell you how much poo tigers do and what the monkeys like for breakfast. An average time schedule for the zoo is like this10:30am – Meet the Monkeys 11:00am – Big Cat Tour 11.30am – Zoolittle Farm 12:30pm – Lemur Feeding 1:30pm to 2.30pm – Animal Encounters Drop-In Session in Zoo at Home 2:00pm – Porcupine Feeding 2.30pm – Big Cat Feeding 3:30pm – Monkey Feeding 4:00pm – Tiger Sanctuary 4:30pm – Big Cat Feeding 5:00pm – Animal Encounters Drop-In Session in Zoo at HomeWell worth a visit and the kids will love it!  They are open seven days a week including bank holidays from 10am staying open a bit later in the Summer months!  Check the website for any closures due to adverse weather!

The Big Sheep is an all weather attraction in North Devon. The Big Sheep is a great day family day out for children and adults. There’s a brewery, garden centre, sheepy shop, the indoor playground and outdoor laser guns. With live shows throughout the day including bottle-feeding lambs, sheep shearing, duck trails and much, much more.

The Welsh Wildlife Centre is located in the spectacular Teifi Marsh Nature Reserve near Cilgerran in Pembrokeshire. This visitor centre is a mine of information on the Nature Reserve at all times of the year, providing guides, maps, guided tours and activity sheets for keen bird and wildlife enthusiasts. The reserve is a fantastic place for seeing a whole range of wetland wildlife, including dragonflies, otters and several different species of bird. The Welsh Wildlife Centre is open throughout the year and has a café and gift shop attached. Parking is available, for a small charge. More details can be found at www.welshwildlife.org

Newquay Zoo is part of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, alongside Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts. The Newquay site has over 130 species set in 13 acres (53,000 m2) of tropical gardens just a short distance from Newquay town centre. The zoo has an endangered breeding programme and so you will get to see some rare animals like red pandas, lemurs, Sulawesi crested macaques, Humboldt penguins, fossa, marmosets, tamarins and tapirs as well as meerkats and lions.

Saltfleetby–Theddlethorpe Dunes in Lincolnshire is a coastal habitat for many species of bird and animal life and covers about eight kilometres and about 952 ha of land on the North East coast. This reserve is made up of salt marsh, dunes and foreshore with more marsh on the landward side and is home to dune flora, migrant birds and wild fowl. It’s open all year round and many events are held there including walks, nature rambles, bird watching, outdoor activities for children (including wheelchair users) as well as picnics! The dunes are a natural attraction and their formation continues daily due to the wind and tidal activity.  They support a wide variety of grass and flowers.  Prolific insects, birds, amphibians and mammals inhabit the salt and fresh water marshes with at least 11 species of dragonfly and damselfly, water beetles and spiders, horse leeches, voles, shrews and the very rare Natterjack toad! The birdlife listed included skylarks, oystercatchers, little tern, meadow pipit, redshank, Brent geese, teal, wigeon, ringed plover and a host of other waders that stop by. Seals are common in this area and delight the kids and adults alike but they are shy by nature so you’ll have to be quiet and visit at low tide if you are see them. Dogs are allowed but on leashes preferably and you’ll need to clean up after them to keep the environment stable. Plenty of parking all year round and it’s easy to find.

The Owl and Monkey Haven is a primate sanctuary near Newport. It is a family run project where the owners provide a safe haven for primates and birds of prey who have been abandoned by their owners. Here you will meet cheeky monkeys, lazy lemurs and noisy gibbons as well as a selection of owls and some buzzards. The Owl and Monkey Haven is a rescue centre and sanctuary for primates and birds of prey who are in desperate need of care and attention. The animals housed at the Haven have come here for various reasons. They may have been bullied within their original groups or unsuitable for breeding programmes. Some of the raptors are injured native birds that would be unable to fend for themselves in the wild. These animals are given another chance to live enriched carefree lives in the relaxed and tranquil environment of the Owl and Monkey Haven.   No dogs allowed

Pensthorpe is a nature reserve in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, near the town of Fakenham. It is a mix of woodland walks and nature trails. A popular Norfolk attraction, the beautiful gardens and its amazing wildlife never fail to disappoint. Visitors can wander round the lakes, meander along one of the many trails or stop to explore one of the projects protecting endangered species. There is also a gift shop and café serving home-cooked food. Pensthorpe is open every day www.pensthorpe.com