Out & About Autumn 2021

Out & About feature

Beale Park from the train

At the Beale Park train station

middle of their enclosure. A fantastic experience for all the little ones. It is no surprise, given that Mr Beale was a keen collector and breeder of peacocks, that peafowl can also be seen wandering freely around the grounds. At each animal enclosure there are information boards, large pictures of some species and even some interactive games for the younger visitors – such as the lemur maze. And when the children have seen all of the animals there is plenty more to keep them occupied, including the much- loved Beale Park railway and, of course, the gift shop. Another new attraction this Walk, which was full of happy children thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout our whole time at the park – clearly a great addition to the park’s collection. A large pirate ship climbing frame is the centerpiece year is a large bouncing pillow, located on Maple

of the largest play area, which can be found next to a shallow paddling pool and beach area just outside the café. Numerous different options for lunch can be found, with the mature trees offering a wealth of shady picnic spots throughout the park and an indoor picnic area for those inevitable rainy days. Another new addition is the transformation of the pavilion into a café, which is run by the Honesty Group, offering food and drinks away from

the throng of the play area and with beautiful views of the grounds. For those wanting some peace and tranquility there are plenty of benches to enjoy the quieter spots in the park, a Japanese garden and a large lake. Welcoming visitors through the gates is key to the survival of Beale Park, which is a charity. It does not receive any additional funding and all tickets sold help provide the food and care every animal needs.

Lucy says that they were all delighted that memberships had risen “hugely this year compared to any previous year”. “When we opened on April 12, we were overwhelmed and delighted at the response and at the amount of people that came in to support us. We are so, so grateful.” As well as continuing its local conservation, such as dormouse boxes, Beale Park hopes to eventually build lasting links with a

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