Tilgate Nature Centre facts for kids
Duck sanctuary at Titmus Lake, Tilgate
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| Date opened | 1966 |
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| Location | Tilgate Park, Tilgate Drive, Crawley, West Sussex, England |
| Coordinates | 51°05′37″N 0°11′00″W / 51.0935556°N 0.183262°W |
| Major exhibits | African, American, Australasian, Madagascan, European, and Domestic Zone, "Animal Adoptions", "Meet the Meerkats", "Junior Keeper for a Day" |
| Website | Tilgate Nature Centre Website |
Tilgate Nature Centre is a cool place to visit in Tilgate Park, located in South-East Crawley, West Sussex, England. It's a small zoo that is officially recognized by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). In 2021, the centre was home to 144 different kinds of animals. They work hard to help save many wild species that are in danger of disappearing forever.
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Contents
The History of Tilgate Nature Centre
Tilgate Nature Centre first started in 1966. It was created by the Crawley Borough Council. Back then, its main job was to raise ducklings. These ducklings were then released into the three lakes at Tilgate: Campbells, Silt, and Titmus.
Over the years, the centre's purpose changed. Now, it has an amazing collection of animals. You can see reindeer, owls, raccoon dogs, parrots, mongooses, otters, snakes, tarantulas, lizards, and many tiny creatures called invertebrates. Tilgate Nature Centre is also very active in special breeding programs. These programs help protect animals that are in danger. For example, they help the Northern bald ibis. They have also helped bring back animals to the wild. A great example is the fen raft spider from the UK.
Fun Things to Do and See
Tilgate Nature Centre has 144 different animal species for you to discover. It is open to everyone who wants to visit. There are lots of exciting things to do there!
Exciting Animal Experiences
You can enjoy public talks where you learn about the animals. You might even get to watch them being fed. The centre offers special experiences like "Animal Adoptions." This lets you help care for an animal. You can also "Meet the Meerkats" up close. If you love animals, you might even try being a "Junior Keeper for a Day." There's also a "Tapir Time" experience.
Learning and Parties
The centre also welcomes schools for educational visits. They offer animal-themed birthday parties too. These are perfect for young people who love wildlife.
Exploring Animal Zones
The nature centre is divided into different areas. Each area features animals from a specific part of the world.
- African Zone: Until 2017, this zone had animals like dwarf crocodiles and grey hornbills. It also housed naked mole-rats, pancake tortoises, and African clawed frogs.
- European and Domestic Zone: Here, you can find reindeer and barn owls. This zone also cares for many farm animals that are in danger.
- Australasian Zone: This exciting zone opened in April 2016. It is home to kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, emus, galahs, and kookaburras.
- Madagascan Zone: This zone opened in Easter 2017. It features servals, ring tailed lemurs, and many different reptiles.
- Americas Zone: The Americas Zone opened in April 2018. Here, you can see Brazilian tapirs, capybaras, macaws, greater rheas, marabou storks, and Jamaican boas.
Protecting Animals: Conservation Efforts
Tilgate Nature Centre plays a very important role in conservation. Many endangered species live there. Conservation means protecting animals that are at risk of extinction. This is happening because their natural homes are changing too quickly.
The centre helps by keeping groups of these animals for breeding. This helps make sure these endangered wild species can continue to exist. Some of the animals that are in critical danger and live at Tilgate Nature Centre include Northern bald ibises, Utila spiny-tailed iguanas, Laysan ducks, and swift parrots.
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Awards and Recognition
Tilgate Nature Centre has received special awards for its work.
In 2020, they earned a Gold Star Award. This award was for their efforts in Sustainability and Zoostainability. It came from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). This award recognized their commitment to being environmentally friendly.
In 2021, a company called Parkdean Resorts ranked zoos in the United Kingdom. Tilgate Nature Centre was placed in first place! This shows how much people appreciate the great work they do.
