British Wildlife Centre facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1997 |
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| Location | Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey, England |
| Land area | approx. 8 ha (20 acres) |
| Coordinates | 51°10′24″N 0°02′56″W / 51.17342°N 0.04902°W |
| No. of species | about 40 |
| Memberships | Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction |
| Major exhibits | Deer; Foxes; Red Squirrels; Wildcats; Otters; Badgers; Pine martens; Polecats; Voles; Owls |
Welcome to the British Wildlife Centre! This amazing place is a special zoo located in Newchapel, a small area near Lingfield village in Surrey, England. It's not just any zoo; it's dedicated to showing off the incredible animals that live right here in Britain.
The centre was started in 1997 by a man named David Mills. He used to have a dairy farm, but he had a brilliant idea: to turn it into a home for British wildlife! At first, only groups could visit, but by 2000, it opened its doors to everyone. Now, you can explore and learn about the wild creatures of the UK.
Meet the Animals: Britain's Wild Side
At the British Wildlife Centre, you can discover around 40 different kinds of British animals. It's a fantastic chance to see creatures you might not normally spot in the wild.
Some of the cool animals you can meet include:
- Deer: Look out for graceful red deer and smaller roe deer.
- Foxes: See clever red foxes up close.
- Badgers: These shy animals are usually hard to spot, but here you can see them.
- Otters: Watch playful Eurasian otters swimming and diving.
- Hedgehogs: These spiky little creatures are super cute.
- Wildcats: Get a rare glimpse of the Scottish wildcat, often called the "Highland Tiger."
- Weasels: Keep an eye out for speedy weasels.
There are many more animals to discover, from tiny voles to majestic owls!
Helping Wildlife: Conservation and Keeper Talks
The British Wildlife Centre is all about helping British wildlife. They want to teach everyone how important it is to protect these animals and their homes. They also take part in special captive breeding programmes. This means they help animals have babies in a safe place, which can help increase the numbers of rare or endangered species.
One of the best parts of visiting is the keeper talks! Throughout the day, the animal keepers feed the animals and give talks. They share amazing facts and stories about the animals. These talks happen about every 30 minutes, and some of the morning talks are repeated in the afternoon. It's a great way to learn directly from the experts and see the animals being fed!
