Beale Wildlife Park facts for kids
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Miniature train
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| Date opened | 1956 |
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| Location | Lower Basildon Reading Berkshire RG8 9NH |
| Coordinates | 51°30′N 1°6.5′W / 51.500°N 1.1083°W |
| Website | bealepark.co.uk |
Beale Wildlife Park is a super fun place located right by the River Thames in Berkshire, England. You can find it between the villages of Pangbourne and Lower Basildon. This park is a great spot to visit because it has three main exciting areas.
First, you can see amazing collections of small exotic animals, farm animals, and lots of different birds. Second, there are beautiful gardens and woodlands where you can explore. And third, there are awesome play areas just for kids!
The park was started in 1956 by a person named Gilbert Beale. He wanted to share the 350-acre (140 ha) land by the Thames with everyone. So, he changed it from private farmland into a special trust that doesn't make a profit. Back then, it was mostly just a path and a few ponds.
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Fun Things to Do at Beale Park
Over the years, Beale Wildlife Park has grown a lot to welcome all kinds of visitors, especially younger ones! There are many cool attractions to check out.
Play Areas and Rides
The park has built some fantastic play zones for kids. You can find a Roplay area, a special pets area, and even sand pits and paddling pools for splashing around. There's also a Little Tikes Play Area, which is perfect for younger kids.
One of the most popular attractions is the Beale Railway. This is a 1-mile (1.6 km) narrow gauge railway. It has a diesel train called "Sir Humphrey Davy." Each train can pull 5 carriages and carry up to 50 people! It's a great way to see parts of the park.
Gardens and Exhibitions
For older visitors, there are lovely gardens and peaceful lakes to enjoy. You can also visit the model boat exhibition, where you can see many cool miniature boats.
Other Facilities
While you're at the park, you can also visit the gift shop to find souvenirs. There's an education centre if you want to learn more about the animals and nature. And when you get hungry, there's a restaurant on site.
Amazing Birds at the Park
Beale Park has special aviaries (big bird enclosures) that are home to many different bird species. Some of these birds are even threatened with extinction, which means they are very rare in the wild.
Some of the most special birds you can see include the green peafowl, the mountain peacock pheasant, and the Bali starling. The park also has a successful breeding program. This means they help birds have babies and then sometimes release them back into their natural homes.
You can explore many themed aviaries around the park. These include areas for African, Asian, and Australian birds. There's also a walkthrough aviary where you can walk right through the birds' home! Don't miss the owlery, the Madagascan aviary, and the beautiful flamingos.
New Animals and Exhibits
In recent years, Beale Park has really grown its animal collection. It's becoming more like a zoo! The park now has amazing animals like lemurs and owls.
In 2007, even more animals arrived, including meerkats, prairie dogs, and tamarins. Then, in 2008, the park welcomed new exhibits. These included a New Zealand area with wallabies and Arapawa goats.
There's also a special African mammals enclosure. It was built just for yellow mongoose and bat-eared foxes. This area has a raised walkway so you can get a great view of these cool animals. Plus, the park welcomed a new pair of capybaras!
