ANIMAL CENTRE
It’s all
about
zoo
The Brent Lodge Animal
Centre is the only place
in west London where
you will find a porcupine,
peacock and a pair of pigs
all living harmoniously
together. Neelum Bains
reports on how you can
get a closer look.
K
nown locally as the Bunny Park,
the free attraction in Hanwell is
officially a small zoo. Thousands
of visitors over the years have
enjoyed seeing the many furred and
feathered residents in the animal centre
as well as the vast open space that
surrounds it.
The centre has more
animals than ever, with
more than 25 different
species including a
rare red crowned
crane, mischievous
meerkats and Bill
and Marjorie the
giant rabbits.
There are also
chickens, a
rooster and friendly
Enjoying the
butterfly
house
peacocks. That is not to mention the dozens of
other birds, insect and mammal species that
have long called the centre their home, from
butterflies to monkeys. More recently, however,
there have been some exotic new arrivals that
have already proven really popular.
MEET THE MEERKATS
Six meerkats moved in with Hitari the recently
rescued porcupine last year and they have
already been visited by a celebrity. Stephen Fry
opened their new enclosure and, since , one of
the male meerkats has been named after him.
The centre is offering visitors the chance to get
up close to the cuddly critters and
feed them while a zoo keeper
explains more about the
friendly little gang, for £35
(or £60 for two people).
ZOOKEEPER FOR
A DAY
The centre is offering
visitors an amazing
opportunity to go
behind the scenes and
experience what it is
like to look after the
animals. The session
lasts four hours and will
give you the chance to
get closer to the animals,
feed them and, in some cases,
help with their training. It costs
£50 per person.
BUTTERFLY
Watch videos.
HOUSE
The tropical
Click to view the
butterfly house will
council’s channel
reopen to visitors
on YouTube
from Monday, 30
March. For just £1 per
person, you can experience
the magical world of butterflies,
watch them feeding, flying around you and
even landing on you; it is an experience you
will not forget.
SCHOOL VISITS
The centre’s award-winning education
programme gives young people an amazing
opportunity to get close to some of their most
delicate animals with a tour of the stunning
tropical butterfly house. At only £3 a child it
offers an incredible chance for young people
to spend the day experiencing nature in the
heart of Ealing.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For details of the animal
experiences, email
[email protected]
or call 07956 362341. All the
money raised goes towards future projects
and maintenance at the animal centre
around ealing
Spring 2015
19