Wild Place Project review – a Bristol zoo with a mission
What toddler doesn’t enjoy a trip to the zoo? If you are on holiday in Somerset you may have heard of Bristol Zoo. But have you heard of The Wild Place Project. It’s a zoological park with a difference and a mission. Here’s what you can find there.
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About the Wild Place Project
The Wild Place Project is on a mission to protect endangered habitats. It was set up by the Bristol Zoological Society, which also runs Bristol Zoo just down the road.
While you’ll see some of the same wildlife at the Wild Place Project as you can at the Zoo, you’ll also find a lot more animal encounters as the project take a hands-on approach to promoting its conservation message.
Our visit
The Wild Place Project feels more like a cross between a safari park and a farm than a zoo. Compared to other animal parks we’ve visited it’s rough around the edges but that’s deliberate.
Footpaths and woodland walks have been kept as natural as possible in keeping with the different habitats that have been recreated.
There’s a focus on animal encounters and education with a daily schedule of opportunities to meet the park’s residents so you can find out about their lives in the wild. It’s all part of the park’s roots in conservation and raising awareness of the human impact on important habitats.
One of the highlights of our visit was meeting the lemurs.
They live in the Madagascar area of the park where you can find out how deforestation is affecting wildlife and ecosystems in South America.
The lemurs are in a walk-though enclosure. If you time your visit right you can see them being feed. Dozens of the inquisitive creatures seem to come from nowhere to chow down on fruit and vegetables.
We were lucky enough to see a pair of newborn lemurs with their mum – Dizzy. She gave birth to her babies the night before so we were among the first people to meet them.
You can just about see them clinging to their mum’s belly in my picture (above).
Play grounds at the Wild Place Project
As well as meeting a variety of animals, there are lots of places for kids to play dotted around the park. This was perfect for Tin Box Tot to let off some steam and keep her interested in-between the enclosures as there was quite a lot of walking to do.
She was also having one of ‘those days’ when parks were a lot more interesting than exotic animals.
We made a loop of the park, visiting the wolves, returning to the lemurs and seeing the cheetahs and zebra.
Before we got back in the car Tin Box Tot wanted several goes on the slides in the covered play area. As it was midweek and the end of the day we had it all to ourselves which she loved as she could take as long as she wanted clambering around the play equipment.
Places to eat
The park has a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating serving sandwiches, kids lunch boxes and light meals.
Toilets and baby changing
There’s one set of toilets with baby changing area in the undercover play zone close to the park entrance.
Make sure you stop here before you wander around the rest of the park as it’s a bit of a trek back if you get caught short.
Handy tips for families
- You can’t take pushchairs into the lemur enclosure as they like to jump on them. Bring a baby carrier for any little ones not able to walk around themselves
- If you’re visiting on a wet day bring waterproofs and wellies in case you get caught outside in the rain
- Sturdy shoes are recommended for all visitors as the paths can be uneven
- Bring a picnic – there’s indoor and outdoor picnic areas around the park. Just don’t take any food into the lemur enclosure – it upsets their tummies.
Need to know
- Directions: it’s really easy to find the Wild Place Project as its just off Junction 17 of the M5.
- Admission prices: adults £8, children aged two to 14 £6.50, under twos go free. If you book online you can save 10%.
- Opening times: 10am until 5pm daily.
More things to do in and around Somerset
If you are on holiday in Somerset here are some more post that may help you plan where to stay and your days out:
- The best Somerset beaches
- Bath with kids
- Things to do in Bristol
- Avon Valley Adventure Park
- The American Museum
- Haynes International Motor Museum.
Disclosure: we were guests at the Wild Place Project as part of a blogger event. All views are my own.
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What a great place to explore. We’ve visited a zoo and animal park so far but not a safari or wild park like this. I’d really enjoy it and prefer it as I’m interested in conservation and it’s always nice to see animals with more space but nothing much like it around Brighton. Amazing you were so close to the newborn lemurs. Looks like you had a great day out! Thanks for joining in with #MyFavouriteTrip Polly x
Our Seaside Baby recently posted…Saplings Classes in Brighton – Forest School Review
I think seeing those cute little lemurs will stay with me for a long time 🙂
It looks fab! I love those kind of wildlife parks, although the placement of the play park areas are never helpful, my two would just want to play in the park all day! Love the lemurs! Thanks slouch for linking up to. #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves recently posted…Dumyat: An Easy Hill Walk For Kids
Ha! Yes, depending on her mood that’s exactly what Tin Box Tot would want to do. In fact she was a bit more interested in the parks that day then the animals but I enjoyed looking at them 🙂
Oh my gosh! How have I not found this place before? We went to Bristol two years ago and would have loved visiting here, even without kids, I especially like walkthrough enclosures!
We will most definitely give this place a visit, especially looking at that play park! Thanks also for sharing those tips – it beats having to scour the website. #myfavouritetrip
Oh wow, I really want to make the trip up here to experience tis. The lemurs are so adorable. This sounds so perfect and hands on. I really want to go! Thank you so much for sharing with #whatevertheweather x
Chloe recently posted…CURIOUS LITTLE EXPLORERS #17
It is very hands on. We missed a lot of the experiences that were on that day but that gives us more of an excuse to go back again 🙂
Looks like an awesome place. The lemurs particularly (and those babies!) were very cute. It’s always great to hear about somewhere new-I am definitely making a note for when we’re in the area. looks like just the place to take Finn 🙂 #whatevertheweather
Lauren (The Helpful Hiker) recently posted…Liebster Award
It is a lovely place for kids that age. I’s definitely go back 🙂
I was wondering what they were called as I was watching Madagascar the other night with my kids. “lemurs” – noted. The playground looks so awesome I think if I go there with the kids – they would not want to leave! haha #MyFavouriteTrip
The indoor playground was great too. I have lots of blurry photos of the Tot going down the slides 🙂
Wow if that near Bristol and its near me! Bristol Zoo is our fave place to visit and I hope we can see this soon! #whatevertheweather
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope) recently posted…In The Night Garden
Definitely recommended if you’re so close by. It’s really chilled out but there’s lots to see 🙂
What fantastic photos of the lemurs! Looks like you had a good time even though you were rushing xx #Whatevertheweather xx
Baby Isabella recently posted…Wiggly worms and slimy slugs
Thanks Isabella, you would have loved the lemurs 🙂 x
Wow, what a wonderful up close encounter with the lemurs!!!! And that cheetah? That’s an impressive cat! This looks like a fabulous place for the whole family to visit! #whatevertheweather
Yes, it did feel like we could get really close to everything. The lemurs especially. They had a lot of character!
Oh wow this looks like such an awesome place!! I love the pictures of the lemurs I wish we lived close enough to visit. One day maybe 🙂
It was good fun and definitely a day out for the bucket list if you’re ever in the area 🙂
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. It’s right on our doorstep and we haven’t been for ages!
Jane Batt recently posted…First Bristol Travel Massive Soars on Social
It was totally new to me but what a great place to live close to!