Torquay’s ornamental gardens

PAIGNTON ZOO reopens...

 e animals at Paignton Zoo had a very quiet time in April, May and June, seeing only their keepers. But now the fabulous zoo and gardens has reopened. Anita Newcombe pops by.

I’m visiting Paignton Zoo just before the reopening at the beginning of July and it’s still in lockdown with its big gates  rmly shut. I’m here to chat to Pippa Craddock, longstanding Director of Marketing and Development in her o ce on the  rst  oor of the Zoo’s entrance building. Of course there are still plenty of people on site – the animals need lots of looking after. Zookeepers are preparing food, feeding them their favourite meals, cleaning their homes, caring for their health and engaging with them while the usual entertainment from seeing a regular stream of visitors has been suspended. Now the zoo is working with a whole host of brand-new safety measures – not for the animals in their charge – but to keep the humans on the other side of the fence safe. Arrival times must be prebooked

for the very  rst time to ensure there aren’t too many people arriving at once. Paignton Zoo is a lovely big, open-air site but where there are contact points you’ll  nd protective screening (with card payments preferred),  oor markings and hand sanitising facilities. Most of their toilets will be open with extra cleaning, good ventilation, hand sanitising prior entry and hand washing prior exit all in place.

Many of the animals are expected to be extra inquisitive as the zoo starts taking visitors again and most of your favourite spots will be open. It’s easy to forget what a therapeutic experience strolling around the lush zoo gardens and visiting the majestic animals like the lions, the tigers, the gorillas, the orang utans and the red pandas can be. Among my favourites has always been the scarlet ibis and there are so many amazing birds like the hyacinth Macaws, owls, peacocks, pelicans and toucans. To help ensure the right level of distancing, there are one-way systems in exhibits like the Amphibian Ark, Bongo House, Rhino House, Crocodile Swamp and Gira e House.  e Reptile Tropics is currently being refurbished and will open on or around 1st August.  e Island Restaurant will be open for takeaways and there will be other food outlets open around the zoo.

Pippa tells me that the Zoo will always be a fantastic and safely managed day out for the whole family and she

hopes that local residents will continue to o er support and continue to visit during the winter. Even if you are an Annual Pass Holder visiting and buying items from the food outlets and shop will be a great help. You can also adopt an animal, donate or fundraise using virginmoneygiving.com/fund/helpourzoo. Businesses can join the Corporate Supporter’s Club; there are gold and silver levels to choose from and lots of bene ts including networking.

A big feature to look forward to is the amazing Great Big Brick Safari, which will be opening on 5th August and running through to 3rd January. From a giant gorilla, a jumbo size elephant and a majestic lion, to marvellous

macaws, beautiful butter ies and a cool crocodile, these stunning Lego brick animals will form  e Great Big Brick Safari Trail for visitors to follow around the zoo. A team of experienced professionals from Bricklive designed and produced these magni cent models. Say hello to Cressida the crocodile, who is 3.1 metres long and made from 19,000 Lego bricks. She took 144 hours to make and weighs 350 kilos. And then there’s Ormond the ostrich – nearly 2 metres tall, made out of 45,000 bricks; he took 200 hours and weighs in at 493 kilos.

So what are you waiting for? Plan a day out to Paignton Zoo very soon. Book online.   paigntonzoo.org.uk

Pippa tells me that the Zoo will always be a fantastic and safely managed day out for the whole family and she hopes that local residents will continue to o er support and continue to visit during the winter.