Blackbrook Zoological Park
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| Address |
Winkhill
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| Telephone |
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| How to
Find it: |
Blackbrook Zoological Park
Winkhill
Nr. Leek
Staffs
ST13 7QR |
| Open: |
February half term - 5th November
10 - 5.30 each day
Last admissions 4pm
6th November - February half term
10 - Dusk
Last admissions 3pm |
| Prices: |
Adults: £8.95
Concessions: £6.95
Children: £5.50
Family Ticket: £27.00
Under 3's are free |
| Area: |
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No of Species |
No of Animals |
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Star
Rating |
| Mammals |
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Conservation |
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| Birds |
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Enclosures |
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| Reptiles |
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Education |
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| Amphibians |
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Recreation |
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| Fish |
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Research |
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| Total |
0 |
0 |
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Click here for a Link to the Zoo's own Web Pages
Write a
review of this zoo
This critique last updated:
Jul 2009
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Official Description
Visitor Reviews Review by David lomas April 2009
This was my third visit to Blackbrook, but the the first in a couple of years. As it approaches its 20th anniversary, the park seems to be returning to its roots as a bird garden – but larger than almost any other bird garden in the UK. On the day of my visit in April, the weather was slightly dull. Blackbrook is set in the Staffordshire Moorland, just south of the town of Leek. The site is level with made-up paths which at times are narrow. Wherever there are steps, there is an alternative ramp close by. The zoo is very accessible. Full details of the park's location can be found at:http://www.blackbrookzoo.co.uk/. Firstly, here's a list of animals you'll no longer find at Blackbrook from the former occupants of the childrens' farm and pets' corner, gone are the goats, alpaca and llama. Other mammals such as Porcupine, Giant Marmots and Tamarins have also moved on, or at least off-show. Mammals are still represented by four species of Lemur, Meerkats, Deer and Red Necked Wallabies. There is still a reptile collection, including tortoises out in the park, but the Cayman have gone. So that's what you won't see, what you will see is a range of cranes and storks that's probably unparalleled in the UK. There are wildfowl lakes - each allocated a geographical area - two species of flamingos and three of Pelicans. There's a colony of Humbolt's Penguins in a new enclosure (although the underground viewing wasn't available on the day of my visit). There are Owls and Pheasants; Vultures and Spoonbills; Rhea, Cassowary and Emus – the latter with 4 chicks at the time of the visit. The keeper talk on the Penguins was excellent. The enclosures are spacious and generally afford the birds the option of privacy. Nest building and nest sitting was much in evidence. There is building work underway at the park, with more walk-in and walk-through aviaries under construction. The Blackbrook experience is predominantly an outdoor experience, with exception of the Crown Pigeons (two species) in the 'Water, Web and Wings' building. Tropical birds such as Parrots and Toucans aren't represented in this collection. My only niggle is that some of the signage is lazy. Here we have a Bird Park that Blackbrook rightly claims to have birds that 'cannot be seen anywhere else in the UK'. There are some interesting stories to tell, but the detailed A4 notices each carry a standard paragraph on the European Breeding and Conservation Programme – this could be explained separately. The under-construction aviaries could have information boards to entice the returning visitor. That said, the hinged question-and-answer boards were challenging and popular. With walk-in and walk-through aviaries, coupled with clear viewing panels and unobtrusive fencing all combine to make Blackbrook an excellent destination for the amateur wildlife photographer
GoodZoos.com Reviews
Species List
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