Not far from us there is a lovely little ‘zoo’ called Hamerton Zoo Park. Opened as a conservation centre it’s not as as big as you think a zoo is but they have so many lovely animals in big enclosures and it’s lovely having it practically on our doorstep. Neither hubby or I had been in years but have wanted to take Monkey to meet some real Monkeys for a while. So with a let up in all the rain we headed out there.
What we hadn’t thought about was that even though it was dry, it was insanely windy – especially being out in the middle of the countryside. So many of the animals were hiding in their little homes rather than enjoying being out in their enclosures. So if it looks in my pictures like the animals haven’t got much room to roam around, believe me they do, but are sheltering from the wind!
They do a year season ticket for the price of 3 visits, so we decided to buy that which means we can go as often as we like this year without worrying about how long we stay (we only go anywhere for a couple of hours at a time with Monkey). Because of the weather there was a lot of animals there that we didn’t get to see.. but here are some of the ones we did see! (The photos aren’t great, I forgot to charge the battery for my good camera, d’oh, and my phone isn’t so great at these kind of shots, will try better next time!)
and yep, Monkey saw some actual Monkeys (and marmosets) for the first time and they were definitely his favourite animals of the day.
It was also massively muddy there because of the recent weather so Monkey had a great time stomping in the mud! Honestly it was so windy I thought he was going to get blown over at one point, he definitely got pushed about a bit! He had a lot of fun though.
I took this photo of him and Daddy having a little rest and I thought it was lovely, so I am linking this up with the lovely Mama H at Thursday’s Child, Friday’s Thoughts for Family Photo Friday.
Hats a really beautiful last photo. It looks like a fab place to visit and when the weather improves (?!) would make a great spot for further adventures. The wind has been incredible hasn’t it.
Thank you I was really pleased with it as they both look so happy 🙂 Oh it has been so windy – I think we’re all ready for spring now!
That photo is lovely. Looks a great place to visit and loving Monkey meeting a monkey! My kids like those, too, and always the giraffes 🙂
Thank you, yeat it is a great that it’s so close. Aww I love giraffes too! 🙂 xx
Looks like a fun day out #CountryKids
Thanks it really was 🙂 xx
Shame that you couldn’t see all the animals! Lovely pictures and looks like you still had fun 🙂
I know but hopefully we will be able to see some more on future visits! 🙂 It was a lovely day xx
What an interesting variety of animals they have there, and although windy at least it was sunny! Lovely photos of your day out especially the last one, thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Yeah they have so many animals, they have wolves and some beautiful tigers too. Thank you and you’re welcome, nice to get out when the sun does make an appearance! 🙂 xx
He does seem rather thrilled at seeing all those animals. A season ticket for the price of 3 visits is a fabulous deal, really. #CountryKids
He was so excited which was great and I’m sure we will have many more adventures there now we have the season ticket 🙂 xx
That looks like a great day, despite the wind! We have a small zoo near us and we have membership so that we can just pop in for an hour and have a run around, the kids love it 🙂 How wonderful that Monkey got to meet the monkeys! #CountryKids
Thank you it was really lovely, oh it’s so worth having the membership isn’t so then the visits can be short but frequent. 🙂 xx
Aww looks like you had a lovely day out! great photos x
Thank you it was lovely 🙂 xx
What a fab time all together. Monkey meeting a monkey, priceless. You took some fabulous photos what great memories to capture. #whatsthestory
It was a lovely day and I’m sure we’ll have a lot more fun there over the years. Thanks 🙂 xx
Looks like a lovely day. My favourite would be the monkeys too.
Great pics.
#Whatsthestory
thanks! I love the monkeys too 🙂 xx
Love the title monkey met some monkeys! Sounds like he had a lovely day out #whatsthestory
thanks, it was great – a lot of fun 🙂 xx
Oh how fabulous, looks like you had a great time at the zoo. Sounds like a wonderful day and how great monkey got to meet some actual monkeys! Brilliant. Lovely post, thank you for sharing with #whatsthestory
thanks it was lovely and he really loved meeting the monkeys! xx
Oh I love the Zoo. We took Baby to Marwell and she loved it. Monkey looked like he had lots of fun. Great picture with Daddy x
Thank you, aww it’s great isn’t it? Lovely to show them all the animals and see how excited they get! xx
What an amazing trip, we have yet to visit a zoo but we need go looking at the fun.
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
Thanks, we are lucky we are so close to one really but you should definitely try and go, it’s great fun 🙂 xx
Lucas says = I am loving reading Monkey’s adventures. I love the look of the Anteater. I have a secret – the Mother’s really scared of Lemurs – one chased her once at the zoo – it was so funny – but she won’t go anywhere near them!!! #whatsthestory
Ah thanks Lucas, Monkey is glad you are enjoying them 🙂 Ha ha oh bless her I’m sorry to your mummy but that does sound pretty funny! 🙂 xx
Looks like you had a great day. Monkey is always so cute – glad you had a great day #whatsthestory
Thank you it was a lovely day and Monkey is certainly entertaining bless him! xx
That looks really lovely. We have somewhere similar near us, where we have a season ticket for. It’s perfect for popping out to it the weather is unexpectedly nice. Glad Monkey enjoyed meeting the monkeys. Potato loves monkeys too.
I love that photo at the end.
What a lovely day! Sounds like you all had a great time. Thank you for sharing your special day with the Outdoor Play Party 🙂
Thank you it was a lot of fun! Pleasure 🙂 xx
Wow looks like a great place to visit whatever the weather. The last photo is lovely. Great to capture those special moments 🙂
Yeah it is really lovely and I’m looking forward to going again on drier days! xx
What a lovely place to explore and I hope you’ll give us an update after you’ve returned in nicer weather (when it arrives?!) Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
Ha ha I definitely will, hopefully we will see a few more of their amazing animals! 🙂 xx
Looks like he had so much fun!
Ooh he really did! It’s a great place 🙂 xx
What a great place to be able to visit, it’s so magical when a child sees wild animals for the first time isn’t it #TheThemeGame
It is great and was so lovely for him to such amazing animals for the first time! xx
Funny that you went on a day when the weather didn’t agree with the animals as I seem to remember taking JJ to Marwell Zoo (near Winchester) on the hottest day of 2010 and funnily enough all the animals were hidden in shady nooks! We hardly saw a thing! Fortunately he was none the wiser at the age of 10 months. Funny how your pictures make it look so deliciously sunny but you can tell its cold from the attire! This was a really Linky friendly post Caroline – oh my I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many badges at the bottom of a post!! But that’s great – spread the word!!
Ha ha I know, i have already linked it up so much but my mind went blank at the theme of animals and this was all I could think of to join in with! 🙂 Haha I love that you had a similar experience, though for different reasons! I’m gonna have to try and find the perfect day to go next time – not too windy, not too wet and not too hot! 🙂 xx
I lived near their with my ex-husband for a while, wish I’d known there was a zoo park, it looks brilliant!
With monkeys and meerkats it’s going on my to-do list anyway! 🙂
Oh what a shame to have missed it, you should definitely go for a visit if you get a chance 🙂 xx
Love the meerkats and kookaburras. Zoos are the best and always take longer to look around than you think…
thanks they are lovely aren’t they? Haha I know what you mean! xx
Ah, yes, I remember this post. Perfect one to link up with this week 🙂 Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame x
I thought it fit quite nicely 🙂 thanks xx
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