Paradise Park

EASTER 31st March to 15th April	IT'S HOPPING MAD THIS EASTER Easter is a great time to visit award-winning Paradise Park, with birds full of the joys of spring and bunnies galore down on the Fun Farm. It’s also the beginning of the new Free Flying Bird Show with intelligent macaws, cockatoos and conures, and for fabulous birds of prey there’s the Eagles of Paradise display. Have immense fun getting up close with Rainbow Lorikeets and buy nectar to feed these brilliantly coloured and very mischievous little parrots. After penguin feeding you can meet the friendliest penguins at the Photocall. Plus there’s Carrot Time on the Fun Farm, and for a small charge you can ride the Jungle Express Train. And that’s not all! There is more fun to be had in the Easter Egg Trail (31st March to 15th April), hunt for clues as you explore the Park and then claim your mini egg prize! All this and the fantastic JungleBarn indoor play centre, makes for the perfect family day out.
New Mini Keeper Quiz All year	MINI KEEPER QUIZ New at Paradise Park for 2012 is a Mini Keeper Quiz where you can test your knowledge of the birds and animals, which are cared for by the keepers at Paradise Park. Curator David Woolcock said “It’s very hard work being a keeper, you are out in all weathers, it’s a messy and physical job but very rewarding. It’s vitally important to be observant and build your knowledge of the birds and animals that you care for if you want to become a keeper. Do you know what family of animals they belong to? What kind of food do they like and how much do they eat? Are they used to a cool climate or do they need to be kept warm? How much should they weigh? What are their nesting habits and how can you make their environment suitable for them to breed? Being aware of this kind of background is vital for being a successful keeper at Paradise Park.” “This quiz is for children to test their knowledge and learn in a fun way, and once complete they can claim their ‘Mini Keeper at Paradise Park’ badge!”
May BANK HOLIDAY 5th to 7th	CELEBRATE ARCHIE THE BALD EAGLES 24th BIRTHDAY Archie’s story In April 1988, in the wilds of a Canadian forest, a Bald Eagle egg hatched. Within days a forest fire raged through the area and firefighters struggled tirelessly to control the blaze. In a last ditch attempt to stop the fires rampage a swathe of trees were felled to create a fire break. That was when the world literally came crashing down around the young bald eagle. Once on the ground the young eagle chick was rescued by forest rangers and taken to the Thompson Zoo in Manitoba, where he was hand raised by the keepers. At eight months of age, and now imprinted upon humans, the decision was taken by the Canadian authorities that this bird could not safely be released back to the wild. That was when he came to Paradise Park. Archie, as he became known, has become one of the highlights of a visit to Paradise Park ever since, flying above the crowds at the daily ‘Eagles Of Paradise’ display. Curator David Woolcock explains “To celebrate his birthday, from the 5th to the 7th May, we will have a big card for everyone to sign, a prize draw each day to win a bald eagle soft toy and additional information on Archie during the flying display. And don’t forget your camera, as a keeper will have Archie on their arm so you can take close up photographs after the display which starts at 12 noon.
June 2nd to 10th	The JUBILEE Holiday Week at Paradise Park Paradise Park is highlighting colour in its ‘Rainbow Week’ to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The colourful parrot family will be to the fore of course, as the Park is home to the World Parrot Trust charity. The way birds and people use colour will feature in the Rainbow Quiz which will run between Sunday 2nd and Saturday 10th June. As you explore the Park to see the birds and animals, look out for the quiz sheet clues. Once complete, you can check your answers and claim your sweet treat in the JungleBarn or gift shop. And check out the ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ experience which happens at 2pm everyday (weather permitting) in the walk-through ‘Australian Aviaries’ in the walled garden. You can buy some food for the little parrots who love nothing more than sitting on your arm, or your head, and squabbling with each other while drinking their nectar – a sweet drink of honey, baby food, chilli powder and vitamins. It’s a fascinating and fantastically fun close encounter for young and old alike. You can also help support this species by buying a rainbow ribbon (minimum donation 50p) to tie onto the rainbow tree in our JungleBarn reception, and help raise funds for the important work of the Lory Conservation Network (www.savelories.org ). The network links zoos, bird parks, and lory exhibits around the world with conservation projects designed to protect lories and lorikeets. In many areas wild lory populations are under threat and need help to survive. Face painting and special rainbow cakes will also be available during Rainbow Week.
June 18th to 22nd	MIDSUMMER GARDEN TOURS Take a walk around Paradise Park with our Head Gardener Chris Griffin and learn more about the Park’s plants and garden. Victorian Walled Garden • Bee & Butterfly Gardens Gazebo Garden • Parrot Jungle and more From 18th to 22nd June at 11am each day. No extra charge other than the normal entrance charge to the Park. Tour takes up to one hour. For more information on the gardens of Paradise Park please click here
Sat & Sun August 4th & 5th	PANDAMONIUM Get creative at a mask-making workshop plus a prize draw to meet a wondeful red Panda!!
Sat & Sun August 11th & 12th	OTTERLY FASCINATING Learn about the cute little otters & a great prize draw to help feed them.
Sat & Sun August 18th & 19th	RED SQUIRREL RAMBLE Fun workshops highlighting this beautiful but endangered species.
August Bank Holiday Weekend 25th & 26th	BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND - IT'S A HOOT Species of owls here include Great Grey, Spectacled and White-faced Scops with Eagle and Barn Owls to be seen flying in our daily shows, plus more owl fun!!
HALLOWEEN TRAIL 27th October to 4th November PLUS our HALLOWEEN KID'S DISCO on Saturday 27th October	HALLOWEEN TRAIL More details to follow. HALLOWEEN KID'S DISCO More details to follow.

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