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 known as Skegness Natureland, is a super cool animal place in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. It's a special spot where you can meet amazing animals and learn about helping nature.
Contents
Explore Natureland's Animals and Fun
Natureland is famous for its seal hospital. It also has a small zoo, beautiful tropical glasshouses called the 'Floral Palace', and an aquarium.
Meet the Animals
You can see many different animals at Natureland. These include seals, African penguins, crocodiles, goats, and even tarantulas! There are also snakes, terrapins, and scorpions. Inside the glasshouses, you'll find colorful tropical butterflies and many kinds of birds.
The Floral Palace
The 'Floral Palace' is a special area with tropical glasshouses. Here, you can explore many exotic plants. You'll see cacti from the United States, Mediterranean shrubs, and even banana plants. It's like stepping into a different world!
Helping Seal Pups
Natureland runs a very important seal hospital. Here, orphaned seal pups are cared for until they are strong enough. Once they are healthy, these young seals are released back into the wild. Every winter, Natureland rescues between 30 and 60 seals. By April 2018, they had already saved their 800th seal!
Daily Shows and Activities
You can watch daily talks where the seals show off their natural behaviors. These behaviors are encouraged through a special training program. Natureland also has a cafe, a gift shop, and toilets for visitors. There's even a small area where kids can try fun activities like brass rubbing.
Visiting Natureland
Natureland is located on North Parade, right next to the beach. It is open every day of the year. The only days it closes are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. There is a fee to enter.
Natureland's Story
Natureland has a long and interesting history. Before it became Natureland, the site already had butterfly houses, an aquarium, and a gift shop. An investment company from Manchester ran these attractions.
How it All Started
Natureland was first opened in 1965 by John Yeadon. Princess Margaret officially opened the attraction. Today, John Yeadon's family still runs Natureland.
Famous Visitors
In 1966 and 1967, Natureland was featured on the BBC children's television show Blue Peter. The show's presenter, John Noakes, even visited the sanctuary!
Amazing Rescues
Natureland has helped many unique animals over the years.
- In 1981, they rescued a walrus they named 'Wally'. This walrus had traveled far from its usual home in the Arctic. It is very rare for walruses to visit the United Kingdom. When they do, they are usually only seen around the Scottish islands.
- In 2012, Natureland rescued a rare hooded seal. This seal had traveled all the way to Lincolnshire from Greenland!
Natureland on TV
In 2015, a television series about Natureland 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
