HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great Escapes: Isle of Wight 3 Animal magic The Isle of Wight has become quite a wildlife haven over the years. Our tour takes in a variety of wildlife centres, covering just about everything from farm animals to African cranes. What these diverse centres have in common is that they make the animals the stars of the show, and all blend education with entertainment. It’s a great way for adults and children alike to learn about the importance of preserving the natural world, while being amazed by the animal kingdom’s magic and mystery. 1 FLAMINGO PARK The Isle of Wight may be quite far south but we bet you would never expect to find flamingoes here. In fact there are more than 100 flamingoes at the park, of three varieties – the Chilean, Caribbean and Lesser. The park is also home to many species of waterfowl, a red squirrel conservation project and a lone beaver. The great thing about this park is that it gives its residents room to roam in a variety of environments modelled on the animals’ home surroundings. Education is emphasised – with a bit of showbiz thrown in. From 11am-4pm, you can meet, feed and stroke the penguins, parrots and pelicans. 2 BRICKFIELDS HORSE COUNTRY More hands-on animal action from a working stables. Like Flamingo Park, it combines education and shows. Guided tours of the heritage museums show how horses were used in the centuries before the invention of the internal combustion engine, and you can take in the surrounding area with a horse-drawn carriage ride. There are two daily parades, and youngsters in particular will enjoy the highly trained racing pigs in Porkers Paradise, as well as the miniature horses. Pony rides are available for children, but the biggest draw for many is the mighty shire horses. Bud and Weiser are thought be one of only two sets of shire twins ever born – the owners say they share a unique bond and even yawn simultaneously. If you want to go for a ride on a more modestly sized horse, Upton Riding stables is just across the road. The stables can be contacted via Brickfields. 3 BUTTERFLY WORLD AND FOUNTAIN WORLD There are many tropical varieties of butterfly flitting around this humid glasshouse, which is a good place to visit if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Wander around the tropical garden and try to spot as many varieties as you can, and if you look closely, you may even see some tiny tropical birds. Fountain World is a separate attraction, with ornate fountain and garden displays, as well as some sizeable koi carp, which are fed three times a day. The on-site garden centre is particularly good for gardening gifts and advice on water features. 4 FORT VICTORIA MARINE AQUARIUM This is a small, colourful aquarium with a good variety of visually stunning fish. Surprisingly, some of the oddest sea-dwellers on display make their home in the Isle of Wight’s local waters, including the poisonous weaver fish and the gracefully undulating rays, a species closely related to sharks – they don’t have a single bone in their bodies. The staff explain the weird and wonderful ways of the various undersea inhabitants, and give guided tours of the tanks for groups. For a really colourful spectacle, check out the tropical reef sections, with seahorses and a resplendent lionfish. 5 RARE BREEDS AND WATERFOWL PARK Flamingoes, sharks, tropical butterflies… how many exotic animals can one small island hold? Plenty more, in fact. At the Rare Breeds and Waterfowl Park you can catch sight of some meerkats, those highly social creatures so beloved of wildlife film-makers. But what really caught us by surprise was the number of African animals in the park, including long-horned Ankole cattle and the distinctive crowned cranes. They are joined by Siberian eagle owls, and, from closer to home, a collection of rare farm animals, rabbits and guinea pigs. 6 ISLE OF WIGHT OWL AND FALCONRY CENTRE Witness an ancient partnership between man and bird that dates back way beyond the medieval age, which most of us associate with the sport of falconry. Daily flying displays show these birds of prey at their majestic best, and include vultures, buzzards, hawks and the centre’s latest addition, an American bald eagle. For the inevitable bad-weather days, there’s an indoor flight barn, and you can book falconry courses for a day or a weekend. 7 ISLE OF WIGHT DONKEY SANCTUARY The humble donkey is a much-loved animal, but some suffer at the hands of unscrupulous owners. This registered charity cares for more than 200 of these essentially peaceful beasts of burden at any one time, and visitors are encouraged to join the Adopt a Donkey scheme. 8 AMAZON WORLD We’ve saved the largest and most exotic of the island’s fabulous collection of wildlife centres until last. Amazon World is an all-weather recreation of the Amazon rainforest and it houses more than 200 species of birds and animals, representing most of the major species that live in the rainforest, including sloths and wide-eyed lemurs. It’s great for kids for two reasons: fun and learning. Daily ‘meet the animal’ talks and an adventure playground will grab their attention and broaden their understanding of the world around them. But the park doesn’t exist just for the good of its visitors; Amazon World is also an important international breeding centre which aims to repopulate the natural habitat with currently endangered species. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Getting around  Wight tasty treats  Animal magic  BACK TO ARCHIVE FACTFILE: PLANNING Tourist information Tel 01983 813818 Refreshments Old Thatched Tea Shop Shanklin Tel 01983 863184 Attractions Flamingo Park Spring Vale, Seaview Tel 01983 612261 Web Click Here Brickfields Horse Country Binstead Tel 01983 566801 Web Click Here Butterfly and Fountain World Wootton Tel 01983 883430 Fort Victoria Marine Aquarium Yarmouth Tel 01983 760283 Rare Breeds and Waterfowl Park St Lawrence Tel 01983 852649 Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre Wroxall Tel 01983 852484 Web Click Here Donkey Sanctuary Wroxall Tel 01983 852693 Web Click Here Amazon World Newchurch Tel 01983 867122 Web Click Here HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Caravan Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.