Spooky fun and spiky hedgehogs for half term
There are some scary goings on at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo this October half term, plus fun and animal antics too!
Kids can pit their wits against the Pumpkin Trail quiz from Saturday 27 to Wednesday 31October and attend a Halloween Fun Day on Wednesday October 31. The Halloween Fun Day will consist of free Spooky Story Time and Colouring In sessions at 12pm and 2pm; plus Make a Trick or Treat Bag drop-in sessions from 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm; and Spooky Face-painting from 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm.
Children must be accompanied by an adult and usual entrance fees apply. There are small additional charges for the above activities (except Spooky Story Time and Colouring In) and there will be prizes available for the Pumpkin Trail quiz.
There’s also a special Hedgehog Day on Tuesday October 30, courtesy of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). The trust is visiting the zoo
for some hedgehog-focussed fun, including story time, a real hedgehog encounter and hedgehog-themed arts and crafts. There will be four, 45-minute sessions, starting at 11.00am. The first sessions in the morning and afternoon only are are bookable in advance through the People’s Trust for Endangered Species at www.ptes.org/events. The other two sessions are on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum number of 30 children per session. The Hedgehog Day sessions are free, though usual entrance fees apply to the zoo.
The world famous Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is located in the heart of South London and aims to help young children enjoy finding out more about animals, nature and conservation.
The family-friendly zoo has a wide range of animals on show, from the pigs, donkeys, rabbits and chickens in the Barley Mow Farm to capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, ringtailed lemurs, mara, emu, coati, Asian short clawed otters and numerous bird species such as African grey parrots.
Children can let off steam exploring the real, life-sized fire engine and there’s also a fun packed adventure playground, with a real tractor and a giant sand pit with water features. At weekends and during the school holidays, children can help the keepers to feed some of the farm animals and there are also feed time talks where children can find out the animals’ names and some of their curious habits. There are also special events all year round, such as Snake Days, Hedgehog Adventures and other animal-themed activity days.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is owned by conservationists Roger and Carol Heap, who also own the New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire and the Chestnut Centre Conservation and Wildlife Park in Derbyshire. Roger and Carol have been involved in wildlife conservation for over 30 years and are helping to protect endangered species through involvement in international captive breeding programmes.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is in Battersea Park, near Chelsea Bridge Gate on Queenstown Road, Battersea Park, Battersea. Tel: 020 7924 5826
