Natureland Seal Sanctuary facts for kids
Common seal at the Seal Sanctuary
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| Abbreviation | Natureland |
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| Formation | 1965 |
| Legal status | Non-profit organisation |
| Purpose | Seals in East Lindsey |
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Region served
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East Lindsey coast |
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Membership
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Seals |
| Website | NSS |
Natureland Seal Sanctuary, also called Skegness Natureland, is a popular animal attraction in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. It's a special place that helps seals and teaches people about many different animals.
Contents
What You Can See and Do
Natureland is best known for its seal hospital. Here, they care for seals that need help. But it's also home to a small zoo, amazing tropical glasshouses, and an aquarium.
Amazing Animals
You can meet many different creatures at Natureland. Besides seals, you'll find African penguins, crocodiles, and even goats! Look out for tarantulas, snakes, terrapins, and scorpions. The tropical glasshouses, called the 'Floral Palace', are filled with colorful butterflies and interesting birds. You'll also see many exotic plants like cacti and banana plants.
Helping Seals in Need
The seal hospital at Natureland plays a very important role. They rescue orphaned or injured seal pups. These young seals are looked after until they are strong enough to go back into the wild. Each winter, Natureland rescues between 30 and 60 seals. In April 2018, they celebrated rescuing their 800th seal!
Daily Fun and Learning
Every day, you can watch special talks about the seals. The seals show off their natural behaviors, which have been encouraged through a training program. It's a great way to learn more about these amazing marine animals.
Visitor Facilities
Natureland has everything you need for a fun visit. There's a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. You can also find souvenirs at the gift shop. Toilets are available for visitors. There's even a small area where children can try activities like brass rubbing.
Natureland is located on North Parade, right next to the beach. It is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. There is a fee to enter.
History of Natureland
Natureland has a long and interesting history. Before it became Natureland, the site already had butterfly houses, an aquarium, and a gift shop. These were run by a company from Manchester.
Natureland was officially opened in 1965 by John Yeadon. Princess Margaret helped open the attraction, making it a very special event. John Yeadon's family still runs Natureland today.
Famous Visitors and Rescues
In 1966 or 1967, Natureland was featured on the popular BBC children's television show Blue Peter. The show's presenter, John Noakes, even visited the sanctuary!
Natureland has also helped some very rare animals. In 1981, they rescued a walrus they named 'Wally'. This walrus had traveled far from its usual home in the Arctic. It's very unusual for walruses to visit the United Kingdom.
In 2012, Natureland rescued another rare animal: a hooded seal. This seal had traveled all the way from Greenland to Lincolnshire!
Natureland has also appeared on television more recently. In 2015, a TV series about the attraction was shown on Estuary TV. Then, in 2017, BBC One featured Natureland on a program called Countryfile Winter Diaries.
See also
- Donna Nook
- Grey seal
- Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre
- Cornish Seal Sanctuary
- List of animal sanctuaries
