tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66453470585769504952024-03-05T20:38:06.941+00:00British Wildlife Centre ~ Keeper's BlogThe BWC is THE best place to see and learn about Britain's own wonderful wildlife, with over 40 different species in our collection. Keep up to date with them all on our Keeper's Blog.Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.comBlogger821125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-30114098582199809812021-12-20T12:52:00.003+00:002021-12-20T12:52:44.788+00:00December Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi54IiOlY2xyEycadmxvesRJP3txfir14x9SEhJDjSyhsLs83-I60yYSzCyp1Odz8wIJ1ukoNpOMP8wQRR1rwumhSleIfCoG9G3xig9oxJsRQHrD4KVqTgFL4eluI3P50owzVrAP0BnLw_q9PG4z7R26lwsli72ImnFNsELnEgykJQBbqW6O0jvOAlD=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi54IiOlY2xyEycadmxvesRJP3txfir14x9SEhJDjSyhsLs83-I60yYSzCyp1Odz8wIJ1ukoNpOMP8wQRR1rwumhSleIfCoG9G3xig9oxJsRQHrD4KVqTgFL4eluI3P50owzVrAP0BnLw_q9PG4z7R26lwsli72ImnFNsELnEgykJQBbqW6O0jvOAlD=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hi all. Just a quickie to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year. Hopefully it will be a good one. </p><p>Centre wise we are still doing very well, and have a couple of new projects lined up for next year. I'm sure we will bring you news of that as it happens.</p><p>Blog wise, you may have noticed the reduce number of posts. This is due to time with the strange year we have had, but also due to most of our engagement coming through our social media channels now. I guess it is much easier to pick up and view, and already there if you have subscribed to it rather than having to go look. With this in mind the blog may very well be used less and only for bigger news, with the social media run by the office being the main source of updates. All linked on this page somewhere. </p><p>Take care everyone, maybe see some of you here next year. </p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-1106957737550608572021-11-30T21:27:00.003+00:002021-11-30T21:27:16.469+00:00November Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6KTzt0Fdbb3XRPqFfKWX4z3U4aY0KcXdwk6c5NGE-Hl_9uOEuOwnfmYjnfX4MeRP-WA0P67Cm8CKnFofY8-rXzlNhrPii2wa3rgMTUTeXISVl73vcHruCWeXv2nxGWu7mOqwVaQU7g/s1024/_MPB5178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6KTzt0Fdbb3XRPqFfKWX4z3U4aY0KcXdwk6c5NGE-Hl_9uOEuOwnfmYjnfX4MeRP-WA0P67Cm8CKnFofY8-rXzlNhrPii2wa3rgMTUTeXISVl73vcHruCWeXv2nxGWu7mOqwVaQU7g/w640-h426/_MPB5178.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>We have had a new arrival over the past month. Meet "Mortimer" the fox. Morty arrived here a couple of weeks a go now and is settling in very well.<p></p><p>Having been rescued as a cub, he was reared with all intentions of him going back to the wild, but despite being with other foxes Morty had other ideas and became to friendly for the wild life. That's when we were asked if we might be able to offer him a home here. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc70NtYH0rrENLN4Fh77IAw7kwNGRdq3_Sl5ceVxXNf3MXWdscImd3AI085TieF4mS0l3p-YkmtOuCpN7oGCcKvtRAI6xcoLkHCYAtFeww2Km1TBnjoNajah1eRZeQrhG8ex0l2UpNJ0/s1024/_MPB5163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc70NtYH0rrENLN4Fh77IAw7kwNGRdq3_Sl5ceVxXNf3MXWdscImd3AI085TieF4mS0l3p-YkmtOuCpN7oGCcKvtRAI6xcoLkHCYAtFeww2Km1TBnjoNajah1eRZeQrhG8ex0l2UpNJ0/w426-h640/_MPB5163.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Having sadly lost "Ellis" to old age a couple of months a go, we of course said yes. After a careful introduction, Morty is now living in our second fox enclosure along with Basil. They kind of tolerated each other for the first few nights, but are now best of buds and often seen running around and playing together. </p><p>Morty really is a friendly little fox. Think of our "Flo" but a male version!.. He will happily come and greet you at the fence line when you come to visit, and hopefully Basil will be able to teach him how to be a bit more of a fox. </p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-69743282375083065162021-10-31T23:04:00.002+00:002021-10-31T23:04:27.279+00:00October Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKMlWGgILF5hyu9JgCmw-VjH8DUv8EgNMLG1hoCL5O-HyUI_TOJ-Ulz-HzyYHMr3h7re7VoL0h7oDrhIgfzrJLwBJVTTxpcsxWDcIdOxhrY6Ih9zjv4-1WF2G1DawF9vHwxronVJT7K8/s1024/_MPB6861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKMlWGgILF5hyu9JgCmw-VjH8DUv8EgNMLG1hoCL5O-HyUI_TOJ-Ulz-HzyYHMr3h7re7VoL0h7oDrhIgfzrJLwBJVTTxpcsxWDcIdOxhrY6Ih9zjv4-1WF2G1DawF9vHwxronVJT7K8/w640-h426/_MPB6861.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We have just come to the end of a very busy October half term, and now with the clocks turned back it really feels as if Winter is on it's way. </p><p>This past month has seen our deer rutting. A lot of roaring and posturing, but not too much actual clashing of antlers this year... but from the little there was it seems that Albus Dumbledeer is once again our master stag. </p><p>He will likely mate with our hinds over the coming weeks, and then we can expect some calves next year in the lead up to summer.</p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-22948149691459337072021-09-30T23:00:00.004+01:002021-09-30T23:00:32.609+01:00September Update<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCj8FnlkROLYfzbIE70swb3A9Kwo7y1ZKgmhqeUYwdQ90oKYQQ-kXXgSBEhWyW4JwxNpiK43tZqVepRhkFOJbtVq-Uko4A1wxjSMWzN4O9b1FeSlPmXyXnL0keVHCP4CtHJZelBWIy48/s1024/_MPB5136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCj8FnlkROLYfzbIE70swb3A9Kwo7y1ZKgmhqeUYwdQ90oKYQQ-kXXgSBEhWyW4JwxNpiK43tZqVepRhkFOJbtVq-Uko4A1wxjSMWzN4O9b1FeSlPmXyXnL0keVHCP4CtHJZelBWIy48/w640-h426/_MPB5136.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This month has been our first month after our Summer opening, and are quickly getting back in to our routine of school groups and photographic days. Despite being closed to the public during the week, we are still open every day to private booked groups be that educational tours for school children or college students, or photographic days for keen photographers. </p><p>I often get asked "you must be looking forward to being closed during the week after the summer holidays when it will be a bit quieter for you?" during the summer, but it is actually the other way around. We have groups booked in every day when we are closed, and have to look after them as well as all the usual animal routines you see us do when we are open... so although still busy, our days when we are open to the public are a little more relaxed for us. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3oWDjfTaGKMGqwlSGjQCVJPLVX0Ni4Lcv_LZziksMg03tl-BYNylAng6V4gjqHbLZzoUUykG_0ngxPYtg4SEK2Bd54GL2iYesvGF7dahBcLXCd4YjlVwQM6S8TKQTZnp72eLsudFInw/s1024/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3oWDjfTaGKMGqwlSGjQCVJPLVX0Ni4Lcv_LZziksMg03tl-BYNylAng6V4gjqHbLZzoUUykG_0ngxPYtg4SEK2Bd54GL2iYesvGF7dahBcLXCd4YjlVwQM6S8TKQTZnp72eLsudFInw/w640-h426/image1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway... enough of that, what new animals news from this month... well, just the one big news story I guess, and that is our new badger Blossom!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blossom came to us from a rescue centre where she had been reared from a cub after being hit by a car. This accident has given her a very distinctive feature of a bent nose, but otherwise she seems fine. Despite being reared alongside other badgers, and with every intent for her to go back to the wild, she became too friendly and we were asked if we would be able to offer her a permanent home here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2fsl98EB27B2WXH8Fh6N4jSADhvo0z2b0lLOGqcFy-nG5RRJm1aBxYbwylrS87z8VVWq-JVZ1tBMW4yqlQCpWav1VFrwEHJDzqCbKsmyVzlR5sJb1pM8wJxVVLG7CpsKVPKTlqUOiO8/s1024/_MPB5130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2fsl98EB27B2WXH8Fh6N4jSADhvo0z2b0lLOGqcFy-nG5RRJm1aBxYbwylrS87z8VVWq-JVZ1tBMW4yqlQCpWav1VFrwEHJDzqCbKsmyVzlR5sJb1pM8wJxVVLG7CpsKVPKTlqUOiO8/w640-h426/_MPB5130.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>She really is a special badger... not only does she seem friendly, but seems to crave human interaction. She keeps herself to herself, but when we are doing routine in her enclosure she always comes over to say hello without prompting. Then again in the evening comes to say hello, have a cuddle and usually ends up falling asleep on your lap. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She will slowly be introduced to the rest of our clan in the lead up tot he end of the year, and hopefully we will be able to offer badger talks again next year. In the meantime our whole clan are still easily seen in our observation badger sett. </div><p></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-48899584691589532172021-08-29T22:59:00.001+01:002021-08-29T22:59:03.911+01:00August Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNaUlHzH_O1_2RoLr7x9tfUOVEltx-si55ZKvuH-4fDyETv8xsd-d12s-4fcB-l9P8e2MgDHSbbAMZ0PSQdYn5fB4RKA1DHhuWbp9clyp5ojB7szddAA6EZp4OVlsLt6i1v4peJbvR-4/s1024/_MPB5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNaUlHzH_O1_2RoLr7x9tfUOVEltx-si55ZKvuH-4fDyETv8xsd-d12s-4fcB-l9P8e2MgDHSbbAMZ0PSQdYn5fB4RKA1DHhuWbp9clyp5ojB7szddAA6EZp4OVlsLt6i1v4peJbvR-4/w426-h640/_MPB5002.jpg" width="426" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The summer is nearly over, well, the summer holidays that is... and what a busy summer it has been. Even with a limit on numbers we have seen very busy days here with lots of visitors, many regulars, and lots of new faces too which had been great. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT38dVu_hgTQ9uQQPpX0AeQhrz1IyyC1HbTDYoSRJIf3FXvw-Lu190tQxPUKQvHDtehNsweEskgb73DmQzJ-qsjisRVaIa63MGFJj6aE1AzrdfN2nT5PacXE6GIn7u-6DX7su_kLvp0w/s1024/_MPB5006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT38dVu_hgTQ9uQQPpX0AeQhrz1IyyC1HbTDYoSRJIf3FXvw-Lu190tQxPUKQvHDtehNsweEskgb73DmQzJ-qsjisRVaIa63MGFJj6aE1AzrdfN2nT5PacXE6GIn7u-6DX7su_kLvp0w/w640-h426/_MPB5006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Of course the baby animals have perhaps been the stars for mot people, but our other animals have been on great form too. I think they are keen of the attention again after the lockdown of earlier this year. Our red squirrels have been particularly good. <p></p><p>We have about a dozen squirrels in the copse, and do the one squirrel talk on them at 10.30am shortly after we open. This is when they are most active, but a tip for you all... if you can't make it in time for the squirrel talk, then after a quiet spell during the middle of the day, they are usually a little more active again nearer the end after our owl display. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYOzElTwu7CJfHPpMTiK3bgEXp3NxryFAut4M251ZHA73cVphhKWfBYTPapCPxZASlMx7KNgLgRFCOjIJ93zD_MQvbQu1q77fbIdIJ14PjrTanNTtyS9Oygmx7YvHuAF2srCZP7OJM0k/s1024/_MPB5047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYOzElTwu7CJfHPpMTiK3bgEXp3NxryFAut4M251ZHA73cVphhKWfBYTPapCPxZASlMx7KNgLgRFCOjIJ93zD_MQvbQu1q77fbIdIJ14PjrTanNTtyS9Oygmx7YvHuAF2srCZP7OJM0k/w426-h640/_MPB5047.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As always, the keeper talks really are the best way to get close to and see our animals. With a talk every half hour, it means you are never too far away from the next one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more full week of being open and then back to weekends only, with private groups, schools and photographers visiting during the week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSysjf_iX1DbDkjiXzvAkWZOExVKo_SfntlGqzDUG_CtqV_EUb-PZp4BD3h666lG10eeje2TXA1R2GT8FMHhGlp0towREujNJF4vEi3yoDhvYd2pzc652VLui0oylMhiaYuwGgjfefuA/s1024/_MPB4114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSysjf_iX1DbDkjiXzvAkWZOExVKo_SfntlGqzDUG_CtqV_EUb-PZp4BD3h666lG10eeje2TXA1R2GT8FMHhGlp0towREujNJF4vEi3yoDhvYd2pzc652VLui0oylMhiaYuwGgjfefuA/w640-h426/_MPB4114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last month has seen some new baby arrivals. After our successful first litters of hoglets, both our pairs have now had a second litter each. Hopefully these will grow well and be able to be released before hibernation, but in case we need to keep them over winter we have already begun to adapt an area in our hedgerow to give us more space for more hogs... almost like a hoglet nursery!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYTBrmbtoYZDRYC-ihpt9Gk9s_nf5BbcugFMdIm4pnEwvydEWXO-aoZnlmas3L5WCCR_itmwj6rNCLQcoUguR3kdN8zQeB1SEt3c0xzld6xOMQbqmquOvM3r8UvyPnil_mN8Ht3UG2Jg/s1024/25.+Eric+losevelvet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="870" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYTBrmbtoYZDRYC-ihpt9Gk9s_nf5BbcugFMdIm4pnEwvydEWXO-aoZnlmas3L5WCCR_itmwj6rNCLQcoUguR3kdN8zQeB1SEt3c0xzld6xOMQbqmquOvM3r8UvyPnil_mN8Ht3UG2Jg/w544-h640/25.+Eric+losevelvet.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After 16 weeks of growth, give or take, our red stags (and fallow buck today) have shed their velvet ready for rutting season. This is an older photo of one of our old stags, but give you an idea of the process. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-80144971813144599172021-07-31T08:19:00.001+01:002021-07-31T08:19:04.985+01:00July Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4tWJ0DOW-XuPOEOsFxNHVaU4Q-pxWxJhDFWgqfLMYDGSb5wMQxA_iNw26LHes-cefWSDu-MspwJG9KX_PU3F4IGhJ1kQHeD8JmVwVMU87LvM-iv7Lx7hCTby74Gbh1YXQAQEdU4EkGQ/s1024/_MPB4517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4tWJ0DOW-XuPOEOsFxNHVaU4Q-pxWxJhDFWgqfLMYDGSb5wMQxA_iNw26LHes-cefWSDu-MspwJG9KX_PU3F4IGhJ1kQHeD8JmVwVMU87LvM-iv7Lx7hCTby74Gbh1YXQAQEdU4EkGQ/w640-h426/_MPB4517.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last month has seen us lead up to our summer opening, we have had the last few schools and photography groups for the season, and are now open every day for the summer holidays. You can now turn up on the day without pre booking, but the booking system is still in place... and it is a little cheaper to pre book your tickets so if you are thinking of visiting us, best to pre book online if you can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXdf9GMlMKKMJz2FgsuSKdS44-b1CwoDpYcwh-09I8e4QiK7k3qXwsLtjWlfdoZAONfw28aOARDwMhLAlU2-sFIxTClUvkXwu97fSIlfloQITwR_9lxi20MQNEijjprxTOjJw4Y7ye5M/s1024/_MPB4886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXdf9GMlMKKMJz2FgsuSKdS44-b1CwoDpYcwh-09I8e4QiK7k3qXwsLtjWlfdoZAONfw28aOARDwMhLAlU2-sFIxTClUvkXwu97fSIlfloQITwR_9lxi20MQNEijjprxTOjJw4Y7ye5M/w640-h426/_MPB4886.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Gerald, our grass snake, is always one of our more elusive animals. A lot of times I hear people saying they haven't seen him, and/or don't believe he is in there. Many frequent visiting members have even not seen him! <p></p><p>We have always said he is more active around the summer, and almost on schedule the last couple of weeks we have seen him a little more often. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fKkKtsSOJy5f3o3UJEqCPrmZw2kma3O4Ju4CHDjrLLZxvwzaw8AkWHFZwaqAT23wetLfQQCTtEESXCplFPEdaP_tW9FR42brlGeYVr02RJnc2FdiPG7EWamaVzT3Ur4ZR6MpKvy4L6U/s1024/_MPB4876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fKkKtsSOJy5f3o3UJEqCPrmZw2kma3O4Ju4CHDjrLLZxvwzaw8AkWHFZwaqAT23wetLfQQCTtEESXCplFPEdaP_tW9FR42brlGeYVr02RJnc2FdiPG7EWamaVzT3Ur4ZR6MpKvy4L6U/w426-h640/_MPB4876.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Keep an eye open for him next time you are here. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuQ6BuXDfwhsVWbWJo68_0-Cr30wv9fioOjgXgGaCz44X8mmfGe-gd_4tlZo_44skdzbBPc1qUX1dib6_30IReq93Z2R5t5M-Ua5Y6Q4xVWnr6LWKinlUlh7xANhJh7JQ5RoExtV8hKo/s1024/_MPB4726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuQ6BuXDfwhsVWbWJo68_0-Cr30wv9fioOjgXgGaCz44X8mmfGe-gd_4tlZo_44skdzbBPc1qUX1dib6_30IReq93Z2R5t5M-Ua5Y6Q4xVWnr6LWKinlUlh7xANhJh7JQ5RoExtV8hKo/w640-h426/_MPB4726.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Our most popular babies this season have been our stoat babies, who have been on top form and playing. Here are two of them with mum, who we have now moved off display to give her some respite from the little ones antics. <p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNVV9PpJ__7neHJfWmtsuB2x0-cEzFI7AgMy5t9GESg1d-zLo4UMsBJI-22akqkMnTykqoKd7h8Hc0KaW-zIwTK42kx4xqZ9k8RnUx-u4xODmFrpT0QLvAuWkz5o_4YO0TpcSKxXfx14/s1024/_MPB4436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNVV9PpJ__7neHJfWmtsuB2x0-cEzFI7AgMy5t9GESg1d-zLo4UMsBJI-22akqkMnTykqoKd7h8Hc0KaW-zIwTK42kx4xqZ9k8RnUx-u4xODmFrpT0QLvAuWkz5o_4YO0TpcSKxXfx14/w640-h426/_MPB4436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Of course our wildcats, trying not to be outshined, have been great and trying to one up the stoats with their playing and games. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctnJptKrRyo7J4CY6T-n_4rZqnCaIr8iFr9hhwtuyQ0j0-5vw7tSJXwJTw5xkAV9tB-EHA5kdCckWsN4bPUAf4E9A_ndc0AhsTGzj3jg7YVu-7mAqS-wNPCkEm2SgoIjmeoz7PkYFstY/s1024/_MPB4459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctnJptKrRyo7J4CY6T-n_4rZqnCaIr8iFr9hhwtuyQ0j0-5vw7tSJXwJTw5xkAV9tB-EHA5kdCckWsN4bPUAf4E9A_ndc0AhsTGzj3jg7YVu-7mAqS-wNPCkEm2SgoIjmeoz7PkYFstY/w640-h426/_MPB4459.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ViTRFFWKR1790AW5qQtyhhLOBbTRdYcDVs247bRYDSj5k1lmKf9BgtA7CPRh15w4H_VeQrIy_6jSF-eITLzfLAS5XnQrTTxqQOrAlDn8AAB3LecDiLsG0R5cJCfe3gYFpBFh4KSPZtY/s1024/_MPB4443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ViTRFFWKR1790AW5qQtyhhLOBbTRdYcDVs247bRYDSj5k1lmKf9BgtA7CPRh15w4H_VeQrIy_6jSF-eITLzfLAS5XnQrTTxqQOrAlDn8AAB3LecDiLsG0R5cJCfe3gYFpBFh4KSPZtY/w640-h426/_MPB4443.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ0ijaa1EdBjROcAmBQas13RsYiLE1lOLgNayFMLqfygNQsMUj5jsJVQUNTACDO_LuYOfq8esGZxHVJCJlkLlVWEwe_0TvapsA7b9TV6SHbeDVL1tib0ysxxFaDDu5SHUeA1EWkgAsJw/s1024/_MPB4436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ0ijaa1EdBjROcAmBQas13RsYiLE1lOLgNayFMLqfygNQsMUj5jsJVQUNTACDO_LuYOfq8esGZxHVJCJlkLlVWEwe_0TvapsA7b9TV6SHbeDVL1tib0ysxxFaDDu5SHUeA1EWkgAsJw/w640-h426/_MPB4436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OB4c7VezJIer7LtatxSfOWMyP4R2xZfSKBNh-rNeOF1lpJFyeXraua2OGjUcXTbnB-jtynX39HP9f6MJfWuqjVeYbSmij47ZMRmtjo9mXljIMlrgubRk-dTovNRZu2YJ3Fd53SEZiJk/s1024/_MPB0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OB4c7VezJIer7LtatxSfOWMyP4R2xZfSKBNh-rNeOF1lpJFyeXraua2OGjUcXTbnB-jtynX39HP9f6MJfWuqjVeYbSmij47ZMRmtjo9mXljIMlrgubRk-dTovNRZu2YJ3Fd53SEZiJk/w640-h426/_MPB0270.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Two big releases this month too. Our second water vole release of the season, bringing the total up to around 100 voles released so far this year, and a joint project with some other Centres to release harvest mice. As well as our usual reserve releases we have supplied some mice for an external release. </p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-22388511241579949012021-06-29T21:34:00.001+01:002021-06-29T21:34:25.741+01:00June Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTLUIlf5IYpggpzAiZgVoMcyo_jang4Hw8-2kYdqhhc1G7JEmlLpgqyZMUOMzf4kFatd9n_4ADZc52jTosy-7f0x3EtlwFY6AcJqmhQlWemLoNv7epNRV6hSowf4eHnHRPaMBDoclWQA/s1024/_MPB4240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTLUIlf5IYpggpzAiZgVoMcyo_jang4Hw8-2kYdqhhc1G7JEmlLpgqyZMUOMzf4kFatd9n_4ADZc52jTosy-7f0x3EtlwFY6AcJqmhQlWemLoNv7epNRV6hSowf4eHnHRPaMBDoclWQA/w512-h640/_MPB4240.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I mentioned some stoat babies at the end of last month. Here are the two that Keeper Izzy is currently hand rearing. Denzel and Ermine, brother and sister, both doing extremely well and currently living at home with Iz. </p><p>These two were abandoned by their mother, Shakira, who had 8 in kits in her litter in total. She obviously felt this was too many for her, especially being a first time mum, but she is doing and amazing job with the remaining kits and they are now beginning to come out and play with each other providing much enjoyment for those lucky enough to see it.</p><p>A few other new arrivals this past month. One of our loaned long eared owls has come back to the roost, and will hopefully be joining our flying team in time for the summer. Some new bats for our nocturnal house too... 3 brown long eared bats and 4 pipistrelles to join up with the ones we already have. Fingers crossed for lifted restrictions in time to allow entry back in there to see them and our dormice. </p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-16580803979702572552021-05-31T11:09:00.006+01:002021-05-31T11:09:59.038+01:00May Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI__h5dHMpgLK8BsoHGccoIsu1K4tZ5BZiylDzBUgzRsw-qF8SukeRZ3adfLGJyqCkn2FHP3q0nkunm4yZcHdCZRjGBuHohfYbRzDoNcROEXa9y2GROUasS2LFllts4qCv96IvdMdt5KM/s1024/_MPB4202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI__h5dHMpgLK8BsoHGccoIsu1K4tZ5BZiylDzBUgzRsw-qF8SukeRZ3adfLGJyqCkn2FHP3q0nkunm4yZcHdCZRjGBuHohfYbRzDoNcROEXa9y2GROUasS2LFllts4qCv96IvdMdt5KM/w512-h640/_MPB4202.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p>The weather is getting warmer, the Centre feels alive again with all the visitors and we have lots of new life! A good start to the year. We are open everyday this week due to half term, pre booked only still due to restrictions, but it hopefully won't be too long until we can lift this and take that next step back to a bit more normality. </p> <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M6bTekNwizPRBTUc0UQPdaqjQ4UUcjZCzyorFZYSNZB6IAcLOEz0C7Ggc7w6hR5akR1LTKiZcUqcgl6kTju2ZwwYWgs8EuDbyl-lw-zgqU_rHfiBaFkBgY0xG3YT0Rn_Lly0jFjKP9s/s1024/_MPB3696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M6bTekNwizPRBTUc0UQPdaqjQ4UUcjZCzyorFZYSNZB6IAcLOEz0C7Ggc7w6hR5akR1LTKiZcUqcgl6kTju2ZwwYWgs8EuDbyl-lw-zgqU_rHfiBaFkBgY0xG3YT0Rn_Lly0jFjKP9s/w640-h428/_MPB3696.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our biggest draw at the moment is arguably our wildcat kittens. Two litters, a few weeks apart, which shows nicely how they grow and the different behaviours at different stages. Above are two of Agnes's kittens, and the top photo is Hilda with one of hers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zfHJ-MQcFgEmGCjzp_osSC-kbRBkxFf8VlS26TvUwMcIrbWwqsrHc_9xMOQQsum0tYJweTGcP85AbGT6kMH6NTjGfFLVMNYaeftSqtA4wYsq35rE3ZMFdZGAZ7Z4aOAGCvxNbpYHtr0/s1024/_MPB0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zfHJ-MQcFgEmGCjzp_osSC-kbRBkxFf8VlS26TvUwMcIrbWwqsrHc_9xMOQQsum0tYJweTGcP85AbGT6kMH6NTjGfFLVMNYaeftSqtA4wYsq35rE3ZMFdZGAZ7Z4aOAGCvxNbpYHtr0/w640-h428/_MPB0609.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lot's of other new life too. Little owl chicks which have begun to come out of their next box, our badgers are doing well and have been named "Chess", "Checkers", "Dominoe", "Tux" and "Barcode". Really exciting is that we have a litter of stoat babies!.. Shakira gave birth about 5 weeks a go to a large litter of kits. It will be over the next week that they will likely start to emerge from their nest box, and start to try and find their feet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVYSTvAATxH4hjfL9gTPzdAsE67it0osHvxHUx8KWXohyphenhyphenI6DzZxVbxSXnab4chvnIK_aHXmM6CKaEed2swtWfssm66jfUN2PRCEaMvgJzZOZMcQZ_rpvYfP2WBFd54NwnJ2z1iWC-hD4/s1024/_MPB3949+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVYSTvAATxH4hjfL9gTPzdAsE67it0osHvxHUx8KWXohyphenhyphenI6DzZxVbxSXnab4chvnIK_aHXmM6CKaEed2swtWfssm66jfUN2PRCEaMvgJzZOZMcQZ_rpvYfP2WBFd54NwnJ2z1iWC-hD4/w640-h640/_MPB3949+-+Version+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our photographic days are always popular, but our owl photographic days in particular have been of high demand over the last week. Setting them up on our nature reserve give them a natural background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPHViy7gj582gT4Hunv8ptVXWpJhU5vsxCWlB9HeLquKpuflW-hsPU27UrA3pgv74x6d_bxdvfQkFg17UFK2oEvcsrtvfOkunuUD84ampVjssoR8J3tUN4evNBzO4XzGYQphEGQ-RzoA/s1024/_MPB3853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPHViy7gj582gT4Hunv8ptVXWpJhU5vsxCWlB9HeLquKpuflW-hsPU27UrA3pgv74x6d_bxdvfQkFg17UFK2oEvcsrtvfOkunuUD84ampVjssoR8J3tUN4evNBzO4XzGYQphEGQ-RzoA/w428-h640/_MPB3853.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possibly the bluebells has been the big draw for them... we managed to put on a few of the days while our woodland was in full blue!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIDRucgWMSa1bIr6VurtaOZUEvK73KZma1gHnhJ5DAr9XhPWTcYMCYCZylvUWp5ALkZ8kpyOLwYnHoWJjekf3jkl64qMDDCmLjy3OwQUZ_OrGZ-8H5r4jGGqQQc9U1oRjBTJUzD5E6wE/s1024/image6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIDRucgWMSa1bIr6VurtaOZUEvK73KZma1gHnhJ5DAr9XhPWTcYMCYCZylvUWp5ALkZ8kpyOLwYnHoWJjekf3jkl64qMDDCmLjy3OwQUZ_OrGZ-8H5r4jGGqQQc9U1oRjBTJUzD5E6wE/w480-h640/image6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Every year we breed water voles for release, and this year they have got off to a flying start. We have several pairs off display that form the basis of our breeding programme, and include some of the less common black water voles. We then release the majority of these on to our nature reserve to booster the wild population we have established out there. Approximately 40 new voles have been released this year already, so keep your eyes... and ears open for that distinctive "plop" noise they make when disturbed and jumping in to the water. <div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-60477096203705388132021-05-13T16:17:00.005+01:002021-05-13T16:17:52.809+01:00Wildcat Kittens<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9py6fbXY8eFISSigwDB1W3QP9ugffnZQKAP91WbHbzFKds_yRGOHdUuTS_YuGkoPF_ERaavNy6jU_TCPRwEdvO8Y9eQzzZzuZrUPH-Gx5mpTw65LNucRW6sM36x63_DoblmWs-H4Smd4/s1024/_MPB3475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9py6fbXY8eFISSigwDB1W3QP9ugffnZQKAP91WbHbzFKds_yRGOHdUuTS_YuGkoPF_ERaavNy6jU_TCPRwEdvO8Y9eQzzZzuZrUPH-Gx5mpTw65LNucRW6sM36x63_DoblmWs-H4Smd4/w640-h428/_MPB3475.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Agnes and Atticus's kittens are now 5 weeks old... this is usually when we would expect to see them out and about a little for the first time, but unlike their shy mother the kittens decide to venture out a little early and we saw them at the end of last week for the first time. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI7n1hlemrH-vVWAdJoAUTH_FWGyQ0BCMtnA78VyKqLpyyl5mY53C25zfG7wpvw-EruzmIPb7hEUo_cx7IT_FTMMrkFse_EbcnG_JIYje_MeoXE_SgxRoIh30ysed1lgDKvW9JpjBYAs/s1024/_MPB3507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI7n1hlemrH-vVWAdJoAUTH_FWGyQ0BCMtnA78VyKqLpyyl5mY53C25zfG7wpvw-EruzmIPb7hEUo_cx7IT_FTMMrkFse_EbcnG_JIYje_MeoXE_SgxRoIh30ysed1lgDKvW9JpjBYAs/w640-h426/_MPB3507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>They don't go too far from their underground den at the back of the enclosure, but explore a little usually during the afternoon and evening. Some lucky visitors managed to see them on Saturday, but unfortunately they did not make an appearance until after closing on Sunday. </p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDmK1EMZX-YGsSNqHppYYCgIEKwJZIRaMO2j48ItFHiq1vlDFrj4LiQMa2xSovRlM3Junfwx_rtrJPgG_M-CrLZFxXOGIRwtMbk4fpIUPF3eBol0ceYwjZgnrrXGVkxgRdRtVJzRLstY/s1024/_MPB3501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDmK1EMZX-YGsSNqHppYYCgIEKwJZIRaMO2j48ItFHiq1vlDFrj4LiQMa2xSovRlM3Junfwx_rtrJPgG_M-CrLZFxXOGIRwtMbk4fpIUPF3eBol0ceYwjZgnrrXGVkxgRdRtVJzRLstY/w640-h426/_MPB3501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>These three single kitten photos are one of each of them. </p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObcjEmQdQ2K05NYTY4Fomps1PPyl7YFQx5kOmGcSVU7457fE_ZjzsQy6K8eVjoNh43Pml_8jzTiHsdhpQfFE7bai4RZUvs9GvSo9hGRNN0D2_XcMrizEGVbyYvCdbMqu_ThDs2dmavxI/s1024/_MPB3496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObcjEmQdQ2K05NYTY4Fomps1PPyl7YFQx5kOmGcSVU7457fE_ZjzsQy6K8eVjoNh43Pml_8jzTiHsdhpQfFE7bai4RZUvs9GvSo9hGRNN0D2_XcMrizEGVbyYvCdbMqu_ThDs2dmavxI/w640-h426/_MPB3496.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>They all seem to be strong and healthy. We have a trail camera set up in the enclosure to see what they get up to at night, some clips have been shared on our social media, and its great to see both Atticus as well as Agnes helping with checking on them, playing with them and looking after them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9Q04XIlj4Soq8aSS6x4b3LcByfMGUXCkz9ReO5UlEHi7y6mTEqqTsR-3IM1X8EDc02E3OhU27OfcyE4zRySyO4CcI8Lw6-AKu9T6L-jVXiw4EX_IxQbO2scGML0M53GgB_0ZpM_d88M/s1024/_MPB3491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9Q04XIlj4Soq8aSS6x4b3LcByfMGUXCkz9ReO5UlEHi7y6mTEqqTsR-3IM1X8EDc02E3OhU27OfcyE4zRySyO4CcI8Lw6-AKu9T6L-jVXiw4EX_IxQbO2scGML0M53GgB_0ZpM_d88M/w640-h428/_MPB3491.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still very small and not very strong, but they try to run and jump around. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Npw4_nZGPcgaFM42sx7UhlccR8o-esQYmJ5ilnrx5CxHvMPeN6BJn-2S8gJ6vT6EhXvGGS0DLisHc8PEjZdDUBTt4BHS24ozFlM3zQyS4qU5tNrUzYwOc7CmTXzIpo6eWTjlcgqI4d8/s1024/_MPB3445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Npw4_nZGPcgaFM42sx7UhlccR8o-esQYmJ5ilnrx5CxHvMPeN6BJn-2S8gJ6vT6EhXvGGS0DLisHc8PEjZdDUBTt4BHS24ozFlM3zQyS4qU5tNrUzYwOc7CmTXzIpo6eWTjlcgqI4d8/w640-h426/_MPB3445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Of course, like all little ones, it doesn't take much to wear them out leaving them to want a nap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Awl2eLvW9xty1ECqDerF-nsTg996N_4Ghr85o_huYKyV_4au-uHcUBh_z-mljsKA_z6XdZS_XC6ze-Q6fF0_NIVmnANFqvVViR164xr6DfO0cjGkBEQnJ_JFqktKRY0VsxQijUr0wco/s1024/_MPB3428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Awl2eLvW9xty1ECqDerF-nsTg996N_4Ghr85o_huYKyV_4au-uHcUBh_z-mljsKA_z6XdZS_XC6ze-Q6fF0_NIVmnANFqvVViR164xr6DfO0cjGkBEQnJ_JFqktKRY0VsxQijUr0wco/w640-h426/_MPB3428.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Even when they are not out, mum is usually keeping a close I on us when we are doing routine cleans and making sure we don't get too close to her babies. </p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7VNjjtz80AT_KH6ORty7GQJd4P5Ory11LWNhoqb5z5IDQGvpZIzYIjdU3fiNrAGzyNBEyxNbjnONPGmudIEcY-m7ZbukjJq_ErAJCUn55OqxAjl9sKX9gNyN17iTJ1FUQfiD1ddVJQI/s1024/_MPB3354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7VNjjtz80AT_KH6ORty7GQJd4P5Ory11LWNhoqb5z5IDQGvpZIzYIjdU3fiNrAGzyNBEyxNbjnONPGmudIEcY-m7ZbukjJq_ErAJCUn55OqxAjl9sKX9gNyN17iTJ1FUQfiD1ddVJQI/w640-h426/_MPB3354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Where as dad is a little more chilled... but then he is a much shyer cat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-53502223180239323922021-04-30T15:13:00.000+01:002021-04-30T15:13:17.566+01:00April Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZzKqqG5aCUxYotcu9vu68yuQzrSGo4C3ljmLbOKJ29FCSp61j1_pQECAwXuijOiex7FcTij11xozQbyOnPEuuVi6XNXwgnF9ps-jfoGPwfMhRO3urqWZicyI5OQ9CT7PJR5y81deWnQ/s1024/_MPB0855+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZzKqqG5aCUxYotcu9vu68yuQzrSGo4C3ljmLbOKJ29FCSp61j1_pQECAwXuijOiex7FcTij11xozQbyOnPEuuVi6XNXwgnF9ps-jfoGPwfMhRO3urqWZicyI5OQ9CT7PJR5y81deWnQ/w640-h426/_MPB0855+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Earlier this month we welcomed people back to the Centre for the first time in over 4 months!.. With restrictions easing on the 12th, we were allowed to open to the public once again at weekends and school holidays, and run our pre booked photographic days and school trips. </p><p>I must confess to being a little apprehensive in waiting to see people here again, I guess having got used to having the place to ourselves and a new routine, but within the first few minutes of opening the doors on the morning of the 12th everything just seemed to be right again!.. Staff and animals relaxed, public seemed happy to be able to get out, and what a joy it was to have the Centre feel alive again and have a real "buzz" about the place... something I have definitely missed!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GBjve29AkSJ8-fBiD67M586GKitVQ-e0TcOtGeyFDVMtIOsIfBWssVhAPCVro_-8XKutG_kCr5PGG1W1v1IHY5VuEAQlZxjDI_EWC8jTKjJkCTB5f5f8ymozvJ-s_lUXg9MvOVW7EIc/s1024/DSC_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GBjve29AkSJ8-fBiD67M586GKitVQ-e0TcOtGeyFDVMtIOsIfBWssVhAPCVro_-8XKutG_kCr5PGG1W1v1IHY5VuEAQlZxjDI_EWC8jTKjJkCTB5f5f8ymozvJ-s_lUXg9MvOVW7EIc/w640-h424/DSC_0195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>As well as the public, we had some other new arrivals this past month. Once again our wildcats have bred, and hopefully kittens will start to show themselves in a few weeks time</p><p>Our badger cubs are doing great, and guess what?.. our other female had a litter of cubs too... so two litters of badger cubs. It's such a shame we have to have our sett closed off still due to covid restrictions, but once we are allowed we will open it up for you to meet them. </p><p>We have the usual water voles and harvest mice litters, which will allow us to do some more releases with them later this year, and our dormice we checked on last month have now been relocated to London Zoo where they are in quarantine before this years release. Things really seem to be getting back on track this year!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-S_0le_3Y4y2yiAooQkvW65ecCARHDTSscV3diP6N7KfNBzfBpBfISOOzRp8AHE92_baJp14dnC7csGUyvOGg9HCNJBUQsErtd4dcW9xn-WntzyczQHfRteaHFwagU9HVKRs6lvC-XY/s1024/DSC_0036-1+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-S_0le_3Y4y2yiAooQkvW65ecCARHDTSscV3diP6N7KfNBzfBpBfISOOzRp8AHE92_baJp14dnC7csGUyvOGg9HCNJBUQsErtd4dcW9xn-WntzyczQHfRteaHFwagU9HVKRs6lvC-XY/w640-h426/DSC_0036-1+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Really exciting news is that our adder were seen "dancing" this week. We had a photographic day here on Tuesday, and they were lucky enough to see the first bit of dancing this Spring. Fingers crossed for a nice weekend and hopefully a bit more action will be seen. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtiYF64cI3AgqaYFcAMoPngAj9wnqBKhl1z9URmrjMfA-MifPFdsLD4uMmrXnoMALVJau6oeMPnDfsXqNDYy1bX7TEq93yUzbPmf8G9m9mrKHTJOvZzMx4SLLtWuiijG4NZ1Qhr6WzOc/s1024/_MPB6933+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtiYF64cI3AgqaYFcAMoPngAj9wnqBKhl1z9URmrjMfA-MifPFdsLD4uMmrXnoMALVJau6oeMPnDfsXqNDYy1bX7TEq93yUzbPmf8G9m9mrKHTJOvZzMx4SLLtWuiijG4NZ1Qhr6WzOc/w640-h640/_MPB6933+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Our photo days have always been popular, but this season interest has been extremely high. I guess everyone is just looking to get out and about having been cooped up for so long! Our owl days in particular had been fully booked for a long time. Due to a school cancellation we were able to add an extra day, which nearly booked out overnight! A great time of year to to photograph them though, the bluebells are out in our woodland and the owls always look great in them!</p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-65020614541017285432021-03-31T22:55:00.000+01:002021-03-31T22:55:48.392+01:00March Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5HGsv0BAojXvg5IomZ0GxYeHeSZWG-TV3FyTX_WyeBoKoyh0JcVF0jOwjd603kwnkmRuHDIQw_4Mcrpa0_bszgETCRvFvmTDd6ngjlrccezwp_ecJHKgWfIOpWoeFhcVLGpZPSUu-Bk/s1024/SAM_1844+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5HGsv0BAojXvg5IomZ0GxYeHeSZWG-TV3FyTX_WyeBoKoyh0JcVF0jOwjd603kwnkmRuHDIQw_4Mcrpa0_bszgETCRvFvmTDd6ngjlrccezwp_ecJHKgWfIOpWoeFhcVLGpZPSUu-Bk/w640-h640/SAM_1844+-+Version+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It's been a strange old month and we have kind of felt like we were in limbo... some good news that we can open from the 12th of April and so start edging back to normal, but still for this month working with less staff and no-one else around. <p></p><p>We are nearly there though!.. In a week and a half we can open up again to the public, Monday the 12th of April and for the rest of that week, pre booked online. Then after that every weekend, bank holiday and school holiday as before, and for the time being still all has to be pre booked online. </p><p>We can also start with our photographic days and tours too, and our diary is already filling up with hardly a free space before the Summer... I think people are eager to get out. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNydxQxcNGkoQFP9xt0q2GETf_0U-wYJZqakgdK4Ggw-WomLb-uMo1Y4ANp7tXtmZ5hPqEsSnK1IUhK3gRbxvh-WkbVIduJLQPwZLeGJ-j7-1IItak416ZrRvoGyLkpelAJ8yhmrmnMUY/s1632/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNydxQxcNGkoQFP9xt0q2GETf_0U-wYJZqakgdK4Ggw-WomLb-uMo1Y4ANp7tXtmZ5hPqEsSnK1IUhK3gRbxvh-WkbVIduJLQPwZLeGJ-j7-1IItak416ZrRvoGyLkpelAJ8yhmrmnMUY/w480-h640/image2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>So what is new? Well, some really exciting things but unfortunately things that won't be able to be seen, unless you are really lucky, for a few more weeks.</p><p>Last weekend we did our pre quarantine for release check on all of our dormice. We had an excellent breeding season last year with both of our pairs having two litters each. They hibernate on the ground, and have yet to wake up after winter, but need to head off to London Zoo soon for a quarantine period and health check before release out in to the wild. This meant gently finding and checking on them to make sure they are alright and ready to go, good news... they are all fit and healthy and will be on their way to the wild very soon. </p><p>Our breeding dormice are on display, but being very nocturnal even when they are out of hibernation will rarely be seen. Usually you would be able to go in to our nocturnal house and see our dormice in there where we have reversed the day and night, but unfortunately we still have to keep that shut off until restrictions ease more the closer we get to summer. Above is a photo of one during the check the other weekend though.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oF5atmQKDb3Z4O1PYOKKrExDPJxFray9e37C_xl2jQ0ZmZhZ0AeZWWnfvf827nHZhtuI7ZQZl5dXHatfuoY_iPuu2TxwgR65_3UI1kvX7fPlPXywR1T1QyM4olJSaDPvWAAZAt_degM/s1280/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1280" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oF5atmQKDb3Z4O1PYOKKrExDPJxFray9e37C_xl2jQ0ZmZhZ0AeZWWnfvf827nHZhtuI7ZQZl5dXHatfuoY_iPuu2TxwgR65_3UI1kvX7fPlPXywR1T1QyM4olJSaDPvWAAZAt_degM/w640-h638/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Our other big news is that we have badger cubs! All doing well and being looked after brilliantly by mum, but again unfortunately our observation sett is being forced to close until restrictions ease. The cubs are nearly at that age when they will start to explore a bit more though and cause some grief for mum, so you never know, nearer the end of the day we may see a little one or two pop out to see what's happening outside.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZZhCz390f_6HHYmj6jPs0GNGXksmr1ghBfo7j0qG5DBp8D0ozpqrSNfNjhszZVaiwLhvvh1l-VQrG56aERGZ3HuLcpamTNEaRul9y_dGYjTGe29LO3jbyZuvRxmp81UKGoUNtAw8zzY/s1024/_MPB8569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZZhCz390f_6HHYmj6jPs0GNGXksmr1ghBfo7j0qG5DBp8D0ozpqrSNfNjhszZVaiwLhvvh1l-VQrG56aERGZ3HuLcpamTNEaRul9y_dGYjTGe29LO3jbyZuvRxmp81UKGoUNtAw8zzY/w640-h512/_MPB8569.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>But there are still all the usual suspects for you to see here, and more exciting news on the way I am sure. Our squirrels should be having kittens soon, our snakes are out and about in the warmer weather and will be dancing soon, red deer have lost their antlers and the fallow will follow shortly and our wildcats are pregnant. </p><p>Hope to see some of you back here in April, and looking forward to another fun year in terms of animal news and stories. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-26867146680599856412021-02-28T23:08:00.004+00:002021-02-28T23:08:50.839+00:00February Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0sQTugJqKIH5ByB51-rciOq3u0vDcwqGQD8XDpQFV_PWbNbZhDufdIeIbTOGb0PHQpfxzGiMNUP6-umqHfJ3WGdiXO2Lbk-imVOAi4r1B5emLKir14rvfmc9CFOsRDXNSnQjrA_qsZg/s1024/_MPB2673+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0sQTugJqKIH5ByB51-rciOq3u0vDcwqGQD8XDpQFV_PWbNbZhDufdIeIbTOGb0PHQpfxzGiMNUP6-umqHfJ3WGdiXO2Lbk-imVOAi4r1B5emLKir14rvfmc9CFOsRDXNSnQjrA_qsZg/w640-h426/_MPB2673+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are still here, still in lockdown, but with a tentative date of when we will be able to open to the public once again. Last week the government announced their roadmap out of lockdown, and when certain restrictions will be lifted. All going to plan, and with no further setbacks, it seems that animal collections such as ourselves will be able to open our doors from the 12th of April!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Great news!.. Not as soon as we had hoped, and we will miss a large part of our Easter opening, but at least a date we can look forward to and plan for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime life goes on here and the animals are still being looked after to all the high standards they are used too. The squirrels have been chasing each other around the copse, so I think kittens will not be too far off, the wild herons on the reserve will soon have their chicks and would you believe we have already seen our first adder out for the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps the biggest thing is the increase in "wild" wildlife activity. During the first lockdown last year we saw an increase in sightings of our wildlife around the Centre and on our reserve, mainly bird life. This lockdown has been no different, but I would say the biggest increase has been in the mammals!.. Maybe the colder weather has contributed to this too. Lot's of wild roe, foxes, stoats and weasels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a couple more photos from during the small amount of snow we had a few weeks a go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJaCsU9TISqf-pLcUOQjCfTofgJirtDQiXWvWRcNLG7iLWJVe_n2Xt-K92MWOtwf8mFu7w2xgT2fmevUJudEPyYseXzMTQWij7CCm6qGjYF6HjGxQ5Vn5ajSXfit3EfnEsQtL-c1OFw/s1024/_MPB3110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJaCsU9TISqf-pLcUOQjCfTofgJirtDQiXWvWRcNLG7iLWJVe_n2Xt-K92MWOtwf8mFu7w2xgT2fmevUJudEPyYseXzMTQWij7CCm6qGjYF6HjGxQ5Vn5ajSXfit3EfnEsQtL-c1OFw/w512-h640/_MPB3110.jpg" width="512" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiC2MgxmHcda2WK2i221nLVJ3EntOSQgFpZOWhpHCaW64ZBg85ovWaMtWKsq-b9tIZ30fINYqutVyYe8N6qm3JlFkQ_6azy3sqrctYYXdUeKl2TnTcAq1XXXR0Bv0btheBPhKJ872d70/s1024/_MPB2968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiC2MgxmHcda2WK2i221nLVJ3EntOSQgFpZOWhpHCaW64ZBg85ovWaMtWKsq-b9tIZ30fINYqutVyYe8N6qm3JlFkQ_6azy3sqrctYYXdUeKl2TnTcAq1XXXR0Bv0btheBPhKJ872d70/w640-h428/_MPB2968.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-59730728082522362292021-02-13T13:03:00.000+00:002021-02-13T13:03:57.905+00:00BWC in the Snow<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4czhHcBUeAAo2eOJ0oMDdn6rhKb2hvjYO3X5dtnBFw1_uq3GwlE4AYOMTQSNHyRh8XjH1NPpzIfGyxytPXKEJLIikyd7e_FjIapFkwjtIfOxDoRRp-nqlnM-fgY19uzjGYWGJjEKs5tU/s1024/_MPB3124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4czhHcBUeAAo2eOJ0oMDdn6rhKb2hvjYO3X5dtnBFw1_uq3GwlE4AYOMTQSNHyRh8XjH1NPpzIfGyxytPXKEJLIikyd7e_FjIapFkwjtIfOxDoRRp-nqlnM-fgY19uzjGYWGJjEKs5tU/w426-h640/_MPB3124.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>As with many areas of the country, we had some snow fall over the past week... but not as much as we were predicted and not as much as areas not too far from us. Still, when there is snow around it is always nice to get out with the camera. </p><p>With lockdown still in full flow, and staffing reduced, it left little time to take pictures... but I did manage to find some time to take a few quick snaps.</p><p>Nearly a week since the first signs of snow, and already it has almost all gone. The bellow zero temperatures for the last few days though has frozen our otter ponds! The otters love this... running on the ice, crashing through it from above or below, and chasing each other with one swimming under while the other follows above!</p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_OZ_M6RWC6rqf0Y6tJCQz1B39DE8i7nsUq3lr2_5pg8i2XTQDJkYtUxKwRd7h2DVMrzDdvq9P56ho7QoEGUUMAwPwirYGhdJYz26rKYon_eit1I4vTFc3aQUwScIYyW52-hEKNUWvag/s1024/_MPB3096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_OZ_M6RWC6rqf0Y6tJCQz1B39DE8i7nsUq3lr2_5pg8i2XTQDJkYtUxKwRd7h2DVMrzDdvq9P56ho7QoEGUUMAwPwirYGhdJYz26rKYon_eit1I4vTFc3aQUwScIYyW52-hEKNUWvag/w426-h640/_MPB3096.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil_xXf4yFnpicqvqwQ9JFnyQngzTGYqgTL3WWt7vT7LsgjI1HXraQfkg43cxmKZguN1T4pTfuIA3HIarrc2QpKU3ZskS7kIOJkFBYtdlZIlx3bQ1wFz9opyhS_bV3XqobyhVTrpbo_Lw/s1024/_MPB3016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil_xXf4yFnpicqvqwQ9JFnyQngzTGYqgTL3WWt7vT7LsgjI1HXraQfkg43cxmKZguN1T4pTfuIA3HIarrc2QpKU3ZskS7kIOJkFBYtdlZIlx3bQ1wFz9opyhS_bV3XqobyhVTrpbo_Lw/w640-h426/_MPB3016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIyGvPKSSYdvpPec1TF5ycrBBPH2aIsNBZlQWuqQnDw3oulzPrvIykcGwogMbwAaT59cvBD2BgfUF2cdjDKvR9cQyWhsQkVLRXN0k0U6MaPAYfmuEB_gzxAzi3rFL9BkUFYJYX1enidI/s1024/_MPB2867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIyGvPKSSYdvpPec1TF5ycrBBPH2aIsNBZlQWuqQnDw3oulzPrvIykcGwogMbwAaT59cvBD2BgfUF2cdjDKvR9cQyWhsQkVLRXN0k0U6MaPAYfmuEB_gzxAzi3rFL9BkUFYJYX1enidI/w640-h640/_MPB2867.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZF_YtMfWttuj_KnzpD-D3F1_DIG162jmn94421yD7dnNd5QQRmL1LJuCgEd9wnRNLEfNd-Af1Lr17SakI1mck4HnAyzV5k6UiXLq0f27uMJqg4FBWDMv_dnwnSCS9-Na6Rp677XlcQU/s1024/_MPB2826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZF_YtMfWttuj_KnzpD-D3F1_DIG162jmn94421yD7dnNd5QQRmL1LJuCgEd9wnRNLEfNd-Af1Lr17SakI1mck4HnAyzV5k6UiXLq0f27uMJqg4FBWDMv_dnwnSCS9-Na6Rp677XlcQU/w640-h426/_MPB2826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ilM1RJXpwwnCcmLKjk7_CZt4F1Nz-NXLY5upbADeZzyRNZNSgcDFLDghRppU4HHBk2bVRD2okfA3mT-MEaiHWT-APWqYD3alKO-J55pfHCKbDMY7UH4zuRC6XOZ_74bBlqBkZAGihTk/s1024/_MPB2813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ilM1RJXpwwnCcmLKjk7_CZt4F1Nz-NXLY5upbADeZzyRNZNSgcDFLDghRppU4HHBk2bVRD2okfA3mT-MEaiHWT-APWqYD3alKO-J55pfHCKbDMY7UH4zuRC6XOZ_74bBlqBkZAGihTk/w640-h426/_MPB2813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDI4SWF8NlIpUu3jdG-DL3wIWowhbXKveIThwWQNBTOdQJCYJc-Qw3eMLl8jHM-bjPqPiZEyLMYl2TzNQX4Wp_ok6gW-HIHxokhlW5eXdZM0pLrLvd_WgTxW1jNd9HcKeajJTyIhrx5I/s1024/_MPB2790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDI4SWF8NlIpUu3jdG-DL3wIWowhbXKveIThwWQNBTOdQJCYJc-Qw3eMLl8jHM-bjPqPiZEyLMYl2TzNQX4Wp_ok6gW-HIHxokhlW5eXdZM0pLrLvd_WgTxW1jNd9HcKeajJTyIhrx5I/w426-h640/_MPB2790.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZbSLapZqZBudC6hTyMWiDfvN32Ig_zABIdAS-i44QEyrY8Tfqop3MVTfFiBnnCDAf-AeuFYKrA_UGU2CxiyB0AIZDGmQGlEwDZZMFYReXLLb7N48FyQv7z8JVmPfx_hemwVAIFI2XNc/s1024/_MPB2723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZbSLapZqZBudC6hTyMWiDfvN32Ig_zABIdAS-i44QEyrY8Tfqop3MVTfFiBnnCDAf-AeuFYKrA_UGU2CxiyB0AIZDGmQGlEwDZZMFYReXLLb7N48FyQv7z8JVmPfx_hemwVAIFI2XNc/w640-h640/_MPB2723.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzxRJGt98y6fGz2D_EGfYMaVmQHBgkkUJAzJyfr9zQS0NhNm8Eh7IczOThShab3iUV85prUmpnQAYT3qllIZBe3DeuDAvjx5k4M9JTNYB3fo7DQfFXeF4FKmGfkcQangQ9GhQPbrrWJI/s1024/_MPB2690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzxRJGt98y6fGz2D_EGfYMaVmQHBgkkUJAzJyfr9zQS0NhNm8Eh7IczOThShab3iUV85prUmpnQAYT3qllIZBe3DeuDAvjx5k4M9JTNYB3fo7DQfFXeF4FKmGfkcQangQ9GhQPbrrWJI/w640-h426/_MPB2690.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-3153646795657670282021-01-31T09:49:00.001+00:002021-01-31T09:49:27.759+00:00January Update<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5wi7ShzVkm6auphTU-rvcRKc7rjYinZ85Ef2OYNgsYkj8aEmn100-9pcDngAXRyoYglK__JTTLIBv7xhpczf8Dw-OMc_Mb1NQ1ChgpQo0rpceLheDRPgfXxpL_UKlhn-yqy6jiTMJjo/s1024/_MPB5965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5wi7ShzVkm6auphTU-rvcRKc7rjYinZ85Ef2OYNgsYkj8aEmn100-9pcDngAXRyoYglK__JTTLIBv7xhpczf8Dw-OMc_Mb1NQ1ChgpQo0rpceLheDRPgfXxpL_UKlhn-yqy6jiTMJjo/w640-h428/_MPB5965.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And so it continues... Shortly after our decision at the end of last month to remain closed for January, the Government announced a third lockdown with a review to be taken mid February. It now sounds like restrictions may not be lifted until early March, and what that means for us and places like us we don't know, but as soon as we are allowed to and as soon as we feel it is safe to, we will open our doors once again!<p></p><p>In the mean time, life goes on here, animals still need to be fed and looked after. It is not as bad as the first lockdown when it was just myself and one other keeper each day. With the new furlough system it allows all keepers to work part time to still feel involved, and gives me an extra help to keep it all going in these dismal and dark winter days. </p>So what's been happening over the last month? We are working with minimal staff just to keep the animal welfare to the high standard we expect. So all non essential jobs are on hold and of course we have no visitors, but there are still some things we have had to do to prepare for this coming year and a few extra seasonal jobs that crop up over winter. <div><br /></div><div>Our deer generally feed themselves naturally for most of the year. We do offer them food, but they prefer the natural grasses and leaves that their paddocks allow. However over the winter they almost exclusively rely on us for food. This means extra work in preparing and providing extra food every day, and more time needed to clean out their large shed and hard standing which they use more frequently during the winter. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uXUi0N5XHi42oUN8oiFLawgAuNP05N8PU8fRRqXw8V6JcsMPU69o8XdrttM4lMixk5dkEgblaMcmwP4wNI2n9UJO2hKiJ3m7YfBDOQYmOSge9N7mneix1p0wyOG7KXQfgK4AmZFwWW4/s1024/_MPB2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uXUi0N5XHi42oUN8oiFLawgAuNP05N8PU8fRRqXw8V6JcsMPU69o8XdrttM4lMixk5dkEgblaMcmwP4wNI2n9UJO2hKiJ3m7YfBDOQYmOSge9N7mneix1p0wyOG7KXQfgK4AmZFwWW4/w640-h426/_MPB2287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Braveheart, one of our breeding male wildcats, has been introduced to Hilda once again to hopefully mate over the coming weeks. Fingers crossed we will have more wildcat kittens later this year. In the meantime our kittens from last year are now all off display and while we wait to here from the studbook as to where they will go.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYw1V8bhjszv0CvFp5UEhQRGm94nYFMPFQqPIxn6txq8ma-DhSuAPmaw4sATwqPwcCwocSBMNFxa2sOajtrLqqru25ombSjqz0gLZ8XlZH_1ZbLUHph_6j6URO2MPlqNqrkvlepGMY-M/s1024/_MPB8789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYw1V8bhjszv0CvFp5UEhQRGm94nYFMPFQqPIxn6txq8ma-DhSuAPmaw4sATwqPwcCwocSBMNFxa2sOajtrLqqru25ombSjqz0gLZ8XlZH_1ZbLUHph_6j6URO2MPlqNqrkvlepGMY-M/w640-h512/_MPB8789.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Otto, the otter, has also been moved off display. He is now approaching the age where there is a risk that he may mate with his sister if they continue to live together. Both of them have settled quickly and seem to be really enjoying their enclosures to themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTkWA4RoMysCkt4KTcNZ-R1F7pDHleQTqwr4vvGcGVduxq7j_VThm6hbm5_pGueWaqTe3kROlpsiit01min0D_t6qbiIOOLJRGQXBauI7lHdWEO4r-cHT6m1rd49SRZVWcgw0t5yQr2E/s1024/_MPB6611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTkWA4RoMysCkt4KTcNZ-R1F7pDHleQTqwr4vvGcGVduxq7j_VThm6hbm5_pGueWaqTe3kROlpsiit01min0D_t6qbiIOOLJRGQXBauI7lHdWEO4r-cHT6m1rd49SRZVWcgw0t5yQr2E/w640-h426/_MPB6611.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Early each year we usually set up our displays of harvest mice and water voles with new little families from our breeding groups off display. You may remember we decided to try setting up our water voles a little earlier, putting a new group out at the end of last year. They are doing very well, and as with the first lockdown, no one here to see them unfortunately. This month we have prepared the harvest mice enclosures ready for new groups before we can hopefully open our doors once again. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBjDh-KdaKJ9nRIrhKH0zV1WFrdWKNbKe2zjOkWFUDfdhgTWyLnEvA53cZRUZtpchx_azpDlMG5ZFJR9nhkIni7OmDyoI0p2aVLo6aM8Epi5_fNsSEAcClQvYohRCyBbxv2MFl9gHkgc/s1024/_MPB2784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBjDh-KdaKJ9nRIrhKH0zV1WFrdWKNbKe2zjOkWFUDfdhgTWyLnEvA53cZRUZtpchx_azpDlMG5ZFJR9nhkIni7OmDyoI0p2aVLo6aM8Epi5_fNsSEAcClQvYohRCyBbxv2MFl9gHkgc/w640-h458/_MPB2784.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Some of you may have seen a slightly different nest box in with a couple of our pine martens over the end of last year... These were a new style we were trying out, and it seems are preferred by our pine martens. Therefore, with the little extra time we have had, we have been able to build and provide all of our pine martens with this newer style. </p><p>So lots going on here still as you can see. All this and the extra winter jobs such as clearing the otter sleuces and more regular checks on nesting boxes to make sure the animals have warm and dry beds. </p><p>Hopefully next month's update we will be able to provide you with a bit more exciting news such as when we can welcome you back here again. </p></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-17426245416179641352020-12-31T16:17:00.001+00:002020-12-31T16:17:18.920+00:00December Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu02IX8X6K4dWxcyAgrlZ5G7PxboQE5iVmZw801aWTi484Gq4GR5CeZnoIP5OUHQ6MakaaWzXkPNsuN1MRRAr1LImqkImrPl0L3uufla8FfsEH5WYMVEEvUNLkPXQ0er9axulLDte_H5M/s1024/_MPB0855+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu02IX8X6K4dWxcyAgrlZ5G7PxboQE5iVmZw801aWTi484Gq4GR5CeZnoIP5OUHQ6MakaaWzXkPNsuN1MRRAr1LImqkImrPl0L3uufla8FfsEH5WYMVEEvUNLkPXQ0er9axulLDte_H5M/w640-h426/_MPB0855+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Deja vu!.. Last months update was the second in a row where we tried to welcome you back to the Centre, and then days later are unable to due to new restrictions put in place. We spent one day in tier 3, before going in to tier 4 and having to close our doors again. Then a few days later on Christmas Eve, despite still being in tier 4, we were told we were able to open again to the public. Crazy times, but we will get through it. Despite this the Centre has decided to remain closed for January, here is our official statement from our website...</p><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Following the Government’s 19th December announcement, the region is now in Tier 4. Sadly, we have had to close the British Wildlife Centre with effect from Sunday 20th December. All those that had pre-booked tickets have been provided with complimentary tickets for a future visit.</i></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Though the Government have recently made an allowance for some outdoor attractions, we feel that the high rise </i></span></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>in Covid cases presents too much of a risk. Therefore, we have made the decision to remain closed in order to </i></span></span><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">safeguard our visitors, staff and the wider community.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Of course we are still here looking after the animals and getting jobs done. Over the past month we finally found the time to sex and microchip our wildcat kittens so that they could be added to the studbook and breeding programme for Scottish Wildcats. Would you believe it... all females! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTCRyHYQJ2tGBzDcnNK04j-vUQxNAScAzWuRr7Q_ErxY5odDq6bh3VxvCy0qIYdEb0ob040U_YdSUsVqmSEkLMjjdCcZ6ENEVf8KYaikEw5LdoTFzuGQ12-IRpcK10N8HIRh20bCahRg/s1024/_MPB0371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTCRyHYQJ2tGBzDcnNK04j-vUQxNAScAzWuRr7Q_ErxY5odDq6bh3VxvCy0qIYdEb0ob040U_YdSUsVqmSEkLMjjdCcZ6ENEVf8KYaikEw5LdoTFzuGQ12-IRpcK10N8HIRh20bCahRg/w640-h426/_MPB0371.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Normally each Spring we add a new young family of water voles to our display island. Last year they were great, but no one saw them as we were in lockdown. When we eventually came out they turned quite shy very quick. In anticipation of our winter opening we decided to put a new young group out a little earlier, but alas we are now closed again. They have been doing well, and hopefully will be active when we welcome visitors back to the Centre.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WB-dy37vRBgHZfEyu76Npx1qRCOlRvsfb6C0gL3U5s6mBdzcHk-gNzZGh3lHrNu-f2LNOn9ljLhfJVGUI4lqT9grVKBhtMXmQNEdwjyYC9Jfr9xFI-N7OlbGlGiNOjCUi2oA_ZBlAoc/s1024/_MPB2394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WB-dy37vRBgHZfEyu76Npx1qRCOlRvsfb6C0gL3U5s6mBdzcHk-gNzZGh3lHrNu-f2LNOn9ljLhfJVGUI4lqT9grVKBhtMXmQNEdwjyYC9Jfr9xFI-N7OlbGlGiNOjCUi2oA_ZBlAoc/w456-h640/_MPB2394.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p>Our red squirrels always look great this time of year with their winter coats with thick fur, bushy tails and striking ear tufts. We experimented a little with the way we do our keeper talk over the summer with a feeding log in the middle of the Copse. It allowed far more people to get a good view with out crowding, and they still come close to visitors outside of the talk when running along the hand rails. With this in mind we are making it a permanent change, and so have changed the small log to a more substantial feeding platform. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_b7Ei_og2z08fKMq1mORzeipkTxDGTeFI2vd4IzG_7RKTwuGSOAVWnSJmfDfjQcZcQsHcq5_MQnpnrrnke-YoBclK_UiSJZL1JXqpNAOpQEbowYrOtKezyOGQQks9MeFZ7fRh7Pbr-Y/s1024/_MPB2187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_b7Ei_og2z08fKMq1mORzeipkTxDGTeFI2vd4IzG_7RKTwuGSOAVWnSJmfDfjQcZcQsHcq5_MQnpnrrnke-YoBclK_UiSJZL1JXqpNAOpQEbowYrOtKezyOGQQks9MeFZ7fRh7Pbr-Y/w640-h426/_MPB2187.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The most recent job before Christmas was to repair and reconnect the pine marten run system where it had been taken down to allow the two oldest pens to be re built. Now all back up and running, we will be able to use them next year to hopefully introduce our martens together for the breeding season. </p><p>As mentioned above in our official statement, we will be remaining closed for January, but hope to be able to welcome you back soon after. Until then stay safe.</p><p><br /></p>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-32854746509425668362020-11-30T22:16:00.000+00:002020-11-30T22:16:09.509+00:00November Update<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdTKlCIMJqvCs_ng4pM5kfbCuEiYIviTb0AZy7hlMSDO9X3YHX1byy3Yyb7YiSGnnANHH7_vHOm3D85S1tlrX5nQ7SotyxNfm6m9kwvehzAv4zd1jsR86itZHU0Q9Eq5NDSn7ZC_fzuA/s1024/_MPB8789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdTKlCIMJqvCs_ng4pM5kfbCuEiYIviTb0AZy7hlMSDO9X3YHX1byy3Yyb7YiSGnnANHH7_vHOm3D85S1tlrX5nQ7SotyxNfm6m9kwvehzAv4zd1jsR86itZHU0Q9Eq5NDSn7ZC_fzuA/w640-h512/_MPB8789.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Well, my October update was short lived... not long after posting it, and inviting pre booked visits and our new Winter photographic days, we get plunged in to a second lockdown for four weeks! Hey ho, it's all about the red squirrels though, and our red squirrels are doing great :-)</p><p>Usually the "quieter" Winter months when we have a few less bookings than usual are when we utilise that extra time to get on top of some of the jobs that would be trickier to do when we are busy, or have more people visiting. These tend to be the jobs such as trimming back the trees, any major repairs and just generally freshening up the enclosures. </p><p>Second lockdown has meant reduced staff for us to keep funds down and ensure we are still here at the end of it, but unlike the first lockdown when it was just myself and one other each day... the shorter days and extra tasks this time around allowed us to keep all keeping staff on board, albeit on reduced hours. Boy have we been busy!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt0v0S64sMOtxYWTlK2r8HVGOkZ_kOJSKHMiVF_9DWPeKrdEqZ7HDV8COJmdneDfD0W-xJs10YZ3HRxJ0UMavkht-BQ9yGQtnJJC30NnW4k7SDJyPXAGgIJ2ha-P9Rhuer4WINVFasR8/s1024/_MPB2245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt0v0S64sMOtxYWTlK2r8HVGOkZ_kOJSKHMiVF_9DWPeKrdEqZ7HDV8COJmdneDfD0W-xJs10YZ3HRxJ0UMavkht-BQ9yGQtnJJC30NnW4k7SDJyPXAGgIJ2ha-P9Rhuer4WINVFasR8/w640-h426/_MPB2245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Lots of tidying has been done all around the Centre, but it is the main enclosures that will be noticed the most. Branches and trees cleared from the otters, to carry on with rush removal of earlier in the Autumn. More recently we finished a bit of a change with the pine martens, including new branches and bark chip for them to explore. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dau8nP6SYkPJLKIDHTRI8fyEEgY8x98LjDPHl_hbpr0Uxvtpljdr4ztL92OhA-aeK9G5YC6hPD-UDtpT9Aw09BgmaBzhipyDpC_k_DqFzmDN2n8rpE2dgURFa6cnOAZ2vh6Xe8tYScE/s1024/_MPB2421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dau8nP6SYkPJLKIDHTRI8fyEEgY8x98LjDPHl_hbpr0Uxvtpljdr4ztL92OhA-aeK9G5YC6hPD-UDtpT9Aw09BgmaBzhipyDpC_k_DqFzmDN2n8rpE2dgURFa6cnOAZ2vh6Xe8tYScE/w640-h426/_MPB2421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Just today we made a start on our wildcats hopefully to be finished, or at least nearly there, by our weekend opening. Still much more to do before the year end and over the first month or so of next year, but we usually manage it before the days begin to pack out February onward with groups and tours. <div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXdL7fsLWdsaXh_Xa-ue-UPMnTo2MDsqKeGSoPmJG20XkzbmUv_1UyLi8lXp2YHyYC7Zr6ETdLhr-nSntulURv41u2wIu1eQHOzlE6ec1zLM7F505IaiZpjXhpPpsPJeuZ9nsBH3n-fo/s1024/_MPB2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXdL7fsLWdsaXh_Xa-ue-UPMnTo2MDsqKeGSoPmJG20XkzbmUv_1UyLi8lXp2YHyYC7Zr6ETdLhr-nSntulURv41u2wIu1eQHOzlE6ec1zLM7F505IaiZpjXhpPpsPJeuZ9nsBH3n-fo/w426-h640/_MPB2563.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div>On the animal front, the biggest news is perhaps our Roe buck casting his antlers. Unlike our other native deer, the red deer, who cast theirs in the Spring. Roe deer cast and regrow theirs over the Winter months. We have also had a late litter of water vole pups. All fit and healthy, but not the best time of year for a release. We will keep them over winter until better weather, and more pups are about, for a better chance of a more successful release next year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's try again shall we!.. Coming out of lockdown this week, we will be open to the public again from the weekend. Pre-booked online only, so take a look on our website to see how to do that. Tours and groups scheduled will still be taking place, and any that had to be cancelled I am sure the office have already... or will be shortly... contacting you about re booking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Take care and stay safe everyone. <br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-50034005598509483992020-10-31T14:15:00.004+00:002020-10-31T14:15:52.276+00:00October Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGbObvGpFrFa5wJX1mVumD0qrtWjcYeH9ckSpJNv1yyspzR0QKuXr5zCzqobMeIdGGvKEH_b811XYJ6KPnLboaJ5aUvO5mYji_uDyHDcRnQJzMi4jCqtPvWLlYMe2RC4tMKX7yr2SLuY/s1024/_MPB8155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGbObvGpFrFa5wJX1mVumD0qrtWjcYeH9ckSpJNv1yyspzR0QKuXr5zCzqobMeIdGGvKEH_b811XYJ6KPnLboaJ5aUvO5mYji_uDyHDcRnQJzMi4jCqtPvWLlYMe2RC4tMKX7yr2SLuY/w640-h426/_MPB8155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Our otter cubs born a year a go have now both moved on to new adventures. Last year Dave and Nicole where born here at the end of the October half term to mum Emmy. They have stayed with mum and dad in our main enclosure until about two weeks ago where we caught them up and sent them off to their new homes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave, now named Maxwell, has gone to the UK Wild Otter Trust based in the South West to a luxurious enclosure to help promote the great work they do there for otter conservation and education. His sister won't be too far away, Nicole has moved to the West Country Wildlife Photographic Centre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJk7cmdjDPZSBNuGBtR-lsNwd0iGLgm7SYX3oeYjT1-01ld2E2WD3i4WESWEb5WV0wuWTvw_QotnOjymLLG_5Tsgt18qdu-zNKl-11haJezQTpiJlThal_HHPxQubKJKtfvIv9he7abA/s1024/_MPB2630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJk7cmdjDPZSBNuGBtR-lsNwd0iGLgm7SYX3oeYjT1-01ld2E2WD3i4WESWEb5WV0wuWTvw_QotnOjymLLG_5Tsgt18qdu-zNKl-11haJezQTpiJlThal_HHPxQubKJKtfvIv9he7abA/w426-h640/_MPB2630.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the beginning of the month our polecat kits born here this year were collected by Ferret Rescue Surrey for release. They had been a lot of fun on display, and after a short period off display to get them used to looking after themselves they have now all gone off to be released. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This gave us space to move one of our breeding pairs back on to display. We thought we would try our newer young breeding pair out there to see how they settle on view. So far they have been great, so you can now see Paul(cat) and Paula(cat) at the other end of the Centre next to our mink. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzeEGLBzA6_HXof65UesPkc1nMSPG-UF35-UMwrOR_W6cBOoLercqnLYkWJDzayPUq3UQNj0EVCju6poBRhUFRO_zZX3Png1YjWN_5LNkw4f7p2PWXNBEy6f1PgAZMCk1WaN2cjQLTuI/s1024/_MPB6239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1024" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzeEGLBzA6_HXof65UesPkc1nMSPG-UF35-UMwrOR_W6cBOoLercqnLYkWJDzayPUq3UQNj0EVCju6poBRhUFRO_zZX3Png1YjWN_5LNkw4f7p2PWXNBEy6f1PgAZMCk1WaN2cjQLTuI/w640-h636/_MPB6239.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A dormouse check and count confirmed we were as successful as we thought we where this year, with 19 pups born from two pairs... two litters each. These won't be going for release just yet with Winter now creeping up fast, but will be ready for release next year as part of the joint conservation programme with the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group and the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, with covid restrictions in place, we haven't been able to open our nocturnal house for you over the summer to see our dormice and bats. But we would of been closing it this time of year anyway. They have now all gone in to hibernation. Hopefully when they wake next year we will be able to open the nocturnal house too for you all to see them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIBIk_kVyXzlGb8JNVyCga8QYgVkGo9ZFbq5HyNGT8xahqlZBgU7OWeUxce45nGGzu7M5PKFf-yt-h60D_g-iGIh5r_E7J2jdkeqpaXGoac2jifrHy-Sjmq4dATboWs8H1hsOTJG9DKo/s1024/_MPB3053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIBIk_kVyXzlGb8JNVyCga8QYgVkGo9ZFbq5HyNGT8xahqlZBgU7OWeUxce45nGGzu7M5PKFf-yt-h60D_g-iGIh5r_E7J2jdkeqpaXGoac2jifrHy-Sjmq4dATboWs8H1hsOTJG9DKo/w640-h424/_MPB3053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our other hibernating mammal is the hedgehog, and they too have begun to think about sleeping for the winter. Around half of ours are already and I am sure it won't be long till the others are too. With this in mind, as in previous years, our keeper talks change slightly. Hedgehogs will no longer feature as a talk until they wake again next spring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shorter days and darker afternoons means we close a little earlier too. After tomorrow our last talk will be the owl display at 3pm, before closing at 4pm for our winter season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojp701lVaIpkbt1ojpDJIuZbYLu_0N4RVOio4XLxMDF6HrcyfxCj_ZTJkhJjOEc87yrlGln1oBx7uEakG2SSOTdIDPZdHqZUEahHw-ILbF_ztXzxOL3_qY7Ey4FLtExJjauCe3DJqPmY/s1024/_MPB0600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojp701lVaIpkbt1ojpDJIuZbYLu_0N4RVOio4XLxMDF6HrcyfxCj_ZTJkhJjOEc87yrlGln1oBx7uEakG2SSOTdIDPZdHqZUEahHw-ILbF_ztXzxOL3_qY7Ey4FLtExJjauCe3DJqPmY/w640-h426/_MPB0600.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With all these animal going or hiding away, it's nice to know we have some that are new. Currently off display is a new weasel, Woodrow, who came to us from a rescue centre too tame to be released. Hopefully soon we will have him on display, and you will certainly know about it. He is very vocal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf0BleDl1IhtOjBD1qtSpUePUANNEW6HMJlIwE45uCFq63xNYYDJ6YX9jC7cUfo1P57ohDmLY0OU37Yb4SIjMfTr02TQieneLtqeGyimA6OrkoXBIblE45v4uPwaFspMrjlnUHEM3-AA/s1024/_MPB2387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf0BleDl1IhtOjBD1qtSpUePUANNEW6HMJlIwE45uCFq63xNYYDJ6YX9jC7cUfo1P57ohDmLY0OU37Yb4SIjMfTr02TQieneLtqeGyimA6OrkoXBIblE45v4uPwaFspMrjlnUHEM3-AA/w640-h426/_MPB2387.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>New for this year, for the quieter months with shorter days, the Centre is offering "Winter Photographic Days" These days will only be an hour shorter than our usual days, but for a much reduced price. Hedgehogs and badgers won't be on the schedule, but all the others will be as per a normal photo day and the same access to enclosures etc will be there.<div><br /></div><div>The day will be an hour shorter due to the daylight hours, and cheaper due to the less reliable weather. But I can say that our animals will be just as reliable, no matter the weather, and with them all being in their winter coats, looking at their best. The softer even light and smaller group size may even appeal to many of you.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJePc7LfnWB3VDbz9hwFsDDZ2FuqUGo6O4NojTIkE1ChCwjfxM0e1LHlH20-SaS8pqpHBHX26uASI_UBUj8pHNNnwUaGFG0556z1DfZy6LVJnum8JsuceR4v-7X-Z6g7dkbS0nQ_BwYE/s1024/_MPB2483+-+Version+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJePc7LfnWB3VDbz9hwFsDDZ2FuqUGo6O4NojTIkE1ChCwjfxM0e1LHlH20-SaS8pqpHBHX26uASI_UBUj8pHNNnwUaGFG0556z1DfZy6LVJnum8JsuceR4v-7X-Z6g7dkbS0nQ_BwYE/w512-h640/_MPB2483+-+Version+2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Remember, if you want to come and see us, we are currently pre-booking only via our website. You can also find out more about our winter photo days there and private "bubble" tours if you are looking for something a little more exclusive over December and January. </div><div><br /></div></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-78932264042580806202020-09-30T12:43:00.001+01:002020-09-30T12:43:04.530+01:00September Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8HdTCqOXY_NYvQXhmfMFhWN7_2WH7ewe-fs3q40Ri72pjzPZUj_rZ-PW4nDvBFJAQxb3eqJXVqPrK9CovAJFIx8vEs5SaktC5_m673CA2u9da1YcCKsp4B6rP7QOQSg-lr8nc1ci3oU/s1024/_MPB2236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8HdTCqOXY_NYvQXhmfMFhWN7_2WH7ewe-fs3q40Ri72pjzPZUj_rZ-PW4nDvBFJAQxb3eqJXVqPrK9CovAJFIx8vEs5SaktC5_m673CA2u9da1YcCKsp4B6rP7QOQSg-lr8nc1ci3oU/w640-h428/_MPB2236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This past month we have been adapting the way in which we work to allow groups to still come and visit us. Our photographic days have been extremely popular, and we have even had a couple of schools and private groups come to see us all in line with our restrictions and the regulations, and of course we are still open to the public at weekends to pre booked online tickets.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBT6tRqrnZjvzlSakbmoYCBZkqkXEOFHGw0wwZ_SOjpU9OrPvHg5Kr0D3wQXr4z1lH98tWImdwKPVLu2q9mpRUgEXKDBc6gdf-ipWvMEXORnETu21b3IhBSc3hFa-IcTrg7vXg0dUsds/s1024/_MPB1951+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBT6tRqrnZjvzlSakbmoYCBZkqkXEOFHGw0wwZ_SOjpU9OrPvHg5Kr0D3wQXr4z1lH98tWImdwKPVLu2q9mpRUgEXKDBc6gdf-ipWvMEXORnETu21b3IhBSc3hFa-IcTrg7vXg0dUsds/w640-h512/_MPB1951+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Before lockdown earlier in the year, we had just had two new pine marten enclosures built. They remained vacant for most of the summer while we were short staffed and still catching up with things, but this past month we finally managed to move our new martens on to display. An older male called Columbo is in one, and a young spritely female called Lyra in the other. Both are in the Dell, and almost certainly if you see one it will be Lyra. </p><p>She is pictured in the above two photographs and is settling in extremely well.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahNByrTn_zJj_miItZdaEjRqsVSce2yS9dqIAd5OTt9usSm0UA5uQ1m81XWWh6tMrpeEhe8aU9_RqbKFfpbSLP9fglzABzvBqa8wJnA1JQFTx1nMYpOAfV29WsYSc54mjQEHQC5AWFdk/s1024/_MPB1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahNByrTn_zJj_miItZdaEjRqsVSce2yS9dqIAd5OTt9usSm0UA5uQ1m81XWWh6tMrpeEhe8aU9_RqbKFfpbSLP9fglzABzvBqa8wJnA1JQFTx1nMYpOAfV29WsYSc54mjQEHQC5AWFdk/w480-h640/_MPB1963.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Our red squirrels have been very active recently, and are beginning to grow through their ear tufts for the winter. </p><p>It's that time of year once again when we need to use the extra time we have with less groups to do any of the bigger enclosure tidying jobs. The main thing with the squirrels is to keep the tree line back from the surrounding fence, and we have made a start on this.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa6RlsnP85FUe_7jV5nKvO6zLOyZWIYak8A63WAMWNjjQCFMRno_rkmxF5THNTFdpqVhZUIbu00SgY1gOlxHwEnA9n9o18m9QlSlSjrEzQJ-SSv_ia_7lGEttHb6aoMornqIyyXcRCTo/s1024/_MPB2040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa6RlsnP85FUe_7jV5nKvO6zLOyZWIYak8A63WAMWNjjQCFMRno_rkmxF5THNTFdpqVhZUIbu00SgY1gOlxHwEnA9n9o18m9QlSlSjrEzQJ-SSv_ia_7lGEttHb6aoMornqIyyXcRCTo/w640-h640/_MPB2040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As well as our two mothers and kittens on display, we have another pair in the end enclosure. They are both extremely shy, but do occasionally come out at the end of the day for a few late stragglers to see. They are stunning cats though, so we thought we best introduce them to those who haven't seen them yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Above is Atticus. He is a very handsome cat who came to us from the West Country Wildlife Photographic Centre. Very rarely seen, but when he is it is usually in the back right corner of the enclosure where he tends to venture out later int he afternoon... waiting until it is quieter to come down to find his food. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hi9aTOtChr9lm_kVRh4srWPWQsg0YDJn1MRThAiqoS922xQcyoQ8rA7jyJODL3CJe9QOQ93BE4ZdXxaJkcl55kiK0LAQBSW48wy2l3F1ZbNfe-MV_tErXsRnrRrH5aFoCWN00PVJlNM/s1024/_MPB2382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hi9aTOtChr9lm_kVRh4srWPWQsg0YDJn1MRThAiqoS922xQcyoQ8rA7jyJODL3CJe9QOQ93BE4ZdXxaJkcl55kiK0LAQBSW48wy2l3F1ZbNfe-MV_tErXsRnrRrH5aFoCWN00PVJlNM/w428-h640/_MPB2382.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p>And this stunning cat is Agnes... Beautiful! She has the greenest eyes I have ever seen on a wildcat! Another shy one, but she is slowly getting bolder and usually spotted on the platform in the centre of the pen or one of the logs at the front. </p><p>Agnes is beginning to come out for food when the keepers are in with them now, and building her confidence. We hope that she and Atticus may well breed next year for more kittens.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7CUYKtNl00lyHbw8h4Nai23UGK9rH2EF3NV4Sr3uWeJuVRNiSvqYf5YYl1kdsPOrwGcwKGX3v5fS2iSRfk4EImYD3N5xqjKBbCLSSq0OD5szVp90TEZbxBUzbVA301DjpHgB15M_grk/s1024/_MPB2104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7CUYKtNl00lyHbw8h4Nai23UGK9rH2EF3NV4Sr3uWeJuVRNiSvqYf5YYl1kdsPOrwGcwKGX3v5fS2iSRfk4EImYD3N5xqjKBbCLSSq0OD5szVp90TEZbxBUzbVA301DjpHgB15M_grk/w640-h428/_MPB2104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Talking of kittens, I guess you can never have too many updates on them! There is no doubt that they have been the most popular thing at the Centre over the summer, and they continue to be a draw despite how fast they are growing. <div><br /></div><div>Above is one of Kendra's kittens, while below is one of Hilda's.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAn_PKGxXgI53EO9qgOHcWd0HOH5alMVthgouYjaVMiDQH4dzKM8HSz0XhFrpG461sSggptwmu4GDF7iYOjApj0JFQdPDF2VXPceDb-JxxMi324HTD7WaJCC75Ea-zJSTDi9OXJYBT1c/s1024/_MPB2341+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAn_PKGxXgI53EO9qgOHcWd0HOH5alMVthgouYjaVMiDQH4dzKM8HSz0XhFrpG461sSggptwmu4GDF7iYOjApj0JFQdPDF2VXPceDb-JxxMi324HTD7WaJCC75Ea-zJSTDi9OXJYBT1c/w512-h640/_MPB2341+-+Version+2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-32111290633349144952020-09-26T11:24:00.000+01:002020-09-26T11:24:12.870+01:00Wildcat Kitten Update<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tNBrktI4kA7SWSggOff37GQjlQGrHI84lkXt5wmIc4tHN-7vlWMLphCPk66ZNzAhwbyjOnHJYK8gK4i9qRWUqgtlDUJ2suWZqPC6G4GKyNLTnDogRiCbtH_W1ddbjrNFi0pyRq712qg/s1024/_MPB2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tNBrktI4kA7SWSggOff37GQjlQGrHI84lkXt5wmIc4tHN-7vlWMLphCPk66ZNzAhwbyjOnHJYK8gK4i9qRWUqgtlDUJ2suWZqPC6G4GKyNLTnDogRiCbtH_W1ddbjrNFi0pyRq712qg/w640-h426/_MPB2287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We have had to adapt our photographic days slightly since re-opening to comply with new guidelines/restrictions and to keep everyone, photographers and staff, safe. All the same great opportunities are there for you to take some fantastic photos, just in smaller group sizes. </p><p>We still take photographers in to all the same enclosures, and all the animals have been as brilliant as usual, but there is no doubt that the real stars have been our wildcat kittens!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoI-fdrlf8nCOEJYkiZatkrKE5g-M4ujn4TwIecaAhnW9ef4uBNXqMaURqZVzroAgBpzl7s2UXLz8OLqvBhiOCSC3DUpPeHGFd03kqEW5QL4WlpJqEDZjyA8Tpg5ulALg4GiCT60-uFU/s1024/_MPB1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoI-fdrlf8nCOEJYkiZatkrKE5g-M4ujn4TwIecaAhnW9ef4uBNXqMaURqZVzroAgBpzl7s2UXLz8OLqvBhiOCSC3DUpPeHGFd03kqEW5QL4WlpJqEDZjyA8Tpg5ulALg4GiCT60-uFU/w640-h426/_MPB1999.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There are a lot of visitors photos of our kittens up on the interweb on various social sites etc. I hadn't had the chance to take many recent photos of them myself, but looking through the many than had been shared, I had to make time to spend with them one evening last week. <div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCnNXnIarmuninr9-cCH1TOPVPkTD-LOB0OjzxkJncs41YmahT-BkSq4XAsQlKEuwcyiNUI-FC9jzPM2Ks9GTAOHlrSo1FyjHsKAJEZDtrcc4cNpxmkxQNbzZdJj6aiZRRQ3MmTAoK1Y/s1024/_MPB2076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCnNXnIarmuninr9-cCH1TOPVPkTD-LOB0OjzxkJncs41YmahT-BkSq4XAsQlKEuwcyiNUI-FC9jzPM2Ks9GTAOHlrSo1FyjHsKAJEZDtrcc4cNpxmkxQNbzZdJj6aiZRRQ3MmTAoK1Y/w428-h640/_MPB2076.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div><br /></div>They are growing fast, but still look very kitten like. Kind of going in to that leggy stage. Hilda's two kittens, who are slightly younger, seem to be a little shyer but still do venture out most of the time. Kendra's two however are as bold as anything. Often meeting us by the door as we enter the enclsoure now. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zY3GryWug6rKSUeRugoJ9PNCbl1ikMn10rx-pI2wZaCcryl2-F_vl-FdeqR-bPB0yvDrqhsveD486Uykn8_GE-Qm8I0PAXHwQrfNExC1oECgqzP2Y_4R2t3XGBfwBe7xgqvbgPRC-5I/s1024/_MPB2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zY3GryWug6rKSUeRugoJ9PNCbl1ikMn10rx-pI2wZaCcryl2-F_vl-FdeqR-bPB0yvDrqhsveD486Uykn8_GE-Qm8I0PAXHwQrfNExC1oECgqzP2Y_4R2t3XGBfwBe7xgqvbgPRC-5I/w428-h640/_MPB2112.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Their favourite spot seems to be under the gorse on the right hand side of the enclosure, and if you visit you will see the flattened grass where they they rolled around and played on. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAoBMwo-ts02H-gNw9lndh_iila_VIWnHWgKrqQsuxzrp_VGC4s1WD7mIlTJZS0tokqqDbYkJDoD3WfX6MC1mfemGhzxMPgFZJOOvi8hOYteOautqVkyLoNOE0IYMLrSWo9oFW3rm1e4/s1024/_MPB2328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAoBMwo-ts02H-gNw9lndh_iila_VIWnHWgKrqQsuxzrp_VGC4s1WD7mIlTJZS0tokqqDbYkJDoD3WfX6MC1mfemGhzxMPgFZJOOvi8hOYteOautqVkyLoNOE0IYMLrSWo9oFW3rm1e4/w428-h640/_MPB2328.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Hilda's prefer to stay a little further back, and enjoy the large logs that stretch through the middle of the pen. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI-Agz1hGhCieeU-vI1cvARBHekn0YdZUafZHZuaTxcanRgc5M6HuoydT_ioRIFoIiFHV_zsydAw4VRBKqGOeNWZ5pb_GsK-jqUaCnsvrHUwSUVDlrrFuEGfaKV_S3UuW0uwLhlcNohY/s1024/_MPB2332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI-Agz1hGhCieeU-vI1cvARBHekn0YdZUafZHZuaTxcanRgc5M6HuoydT_ioRIFoIiFHV_zsydAw4VRBKqGOeNWZ5pb_GsK-jqUaCnsvrHUwSUVDlrrFuEGfaKV_S3UuW0uwLhlcNohY/w428-h640/_MPB2332.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is one of Hilda's above, she certainly knows she's a looker posing like that :-) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqZJ-0PyBhTi9iV0GqKt0kIGiGTnvkoS_R5waB8hXf3ZCcKrGiGKKYYBzhZgD4f81rpFABhb-w3Nq-m-YYUYRhqduRrwyo2KuQsYQ_pcNmHsBeDM-J7I2_M7Q7JbFMkVJO1VUVEnKGkM/s1024/_MPB2335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqZJ-0PyBhTi9iV0GqKt0kIGiGTnvkoS_R5waB8hXf3ZCcKrGiGKKYYBzhZgD4f81rpFABhb-w3Nq-m-YYUYRhqduRrwyo2KuQsYQ_pcNmHsBeDM-J7I2_M7Q7JbFMkVJO1VUVEnKGkM/w640-h428/_MPB2335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We will keep the kittens on display up to the end of the year, so still lots of chances to see them grow and mature over the following weeks. Then early next year we will have to start thinking about moving them off display before they move to their new homes, to allow the parents to hopefully breed again. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGk5RkFC2zY9YVKQoWA8v0bX2D4gb_3yLNSKm4lu0UZENDBFLWUbG1Yiz8M6BIV6B7ItSGouckphjYxoJIZa1RX29JYj-z838ge6CzVDw1cOZ3t5RIcnoy90n7yubh_f1FHMXOElHt8Q/s1024/_MPB2344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGk5RkFC2zY9YVKQoWA8v0bX2D4gb_3yLNSKm4lu0UZENDBFLWUbG1Yiz8M6BIV6B7ItSGouckphjYxoJIZa1RX29JYj-z838ge6CzVDw1cOZ3t5RIcnoy90n7yubh_f1FHMXOElHt8Q/w640-h429/_MPB2344.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If you want to see them, they are often active throughout the day now, and our wildcat keeper talk times are still 11.30am and 2.00pm.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4G_808vhPgJflnywQg0AfOjwApmOhA4bHiy9ZlSIabKQaGA_9phkXrcxRWGL6kTjbwcJZ8cBdQxdpHhCtnsbhMr4rMjvahELBU-CS6jMXJZ6mnEO_OhG3NAo1Z4rkjOnKtPmPfBu0eU/s1024/_MPB2365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4G_808vhPgJflnywQg0AfOjwApmOhA4bHiy9ZlSIabKQaGA_9phkXrcxRWGL6kTjbwcJZ8cBdQxdpHhCtnsbhMr4rMjvahELBU-CS6jMXJZ6mnEO_OhG3NAo1Z4rkjOnKtPmPfBu0eU/w640-h428/_MPB2365.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-63362702500859772712020-08-22T10:25:00.003+01:002020-08-22T10:25:24.426+01:00Baby Snakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIVAvQG9laT4ukJWeJURCnRXxGsOxZvKlJjcFXllWgYdYJ8bWYM9Eajv3eLo36-URCmZ_GkqZfX9nHy-aG4pyF0Av1UpS0OaHIcRN8w_x8QN-ukF1QdaEEwERmNzJnAKBV-Cd9L3div4/s1024/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIVAvQG9laT4ukJWeJURCnRXxGsOxZvKlJjcFXllWgYdYJ8bWYM9Eajv3eLo36-URCmZ_GkqZfX9nHy-aG4pyF0Av1UpS0OaHIcRN8w_x8QN-ukF1QdaEEwERmNzJnAKBV-Cd9L3div4/s640/image1+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adderlings! OK, baby adders or "neonates". But I prefer to call them adderlings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aren't they beautiful! Stunning little miniatures of their adult form... Bellatrix, our female, mated earlier this year after the boys showed off with their dancing and last weekend she gave birth. Unlike many snakes, adders don't lay eggs but give birth to live young... or to get a bit complicated, they appear to give birth to live young but in fact they develop inside the female in little egg sacs which usually erupt just before or while giving birth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Female adders usually have around double figures of young, and we have seen eight at once so far... so a good litter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjp79ybZ9apOVCfM9woAIm6ZunWDNUA2heaZUUzmPTkc_BSY9tYl9vSM5zFCO4NW-f_tFJd9Wu1Qrn1ixQBLthpDzqGR2pDs2zsnKfMw-9WBUWuZaVDLr9cehHE4oHVdMtLxHdASAD-g/s1024/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjp79ybZ9apOVCfM9woAIm6ZunWDNUA2heaZUUzmPTkc_BSY9tYl9vSM5zFCO4NW-f_tFJd9Wu1Qrn1ixQBLthpDzqGR2pDs2zsnKfMw-9WBUWuZaVDLr9cehHE4oHVdMtLxHdASAD-g/s640/image4.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Daddy's little girl!.. This gives you the scale (get it, scale :-) ) of how big the adderlings are when first born. This is a one day old adderling basking next to one of our males. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are full independent from the moment they are born. The father, and even the mother, has nothing to do with them once they are out in the real world. The adder is our only native venomous snake in this country, and even from day one they can administer a venomous bite. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUVpclmLuOJAWHtUZQWI_-0HgZ1TSjAZnzj3NIAYTZSl2WHQJFa6EFOSuoMOvkgV_e60izvvSwYatT68zdaF3g9oPlvqfowkakv1Mxt57FuGvmeBlZ-3OOxwHQRGpnMa0PYxhovkaHn0/s1024/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUVpclmLuOJAWHtUZQWI_-0HgZ1TSjAZnzj3NIAYTZSl2WHQJFa6EFOSuoMOvkgV_e60izvvSwYatT68zdaF3g9oPlvqfowkakv1Mxt57FuGvmeBlZ-3OOxwHQRGpnMa0PYxhovkaHn0/s640/image5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But look at her... butter wouldn't melt!<div><br /></div><div>They do have a bad reputation, or a misunderstanding is perhaps a better way of putting it. Adders are very docile animals, and will usually be long gone before you see them out in the wild. Much rather slinking away than to be near us. Usually they would only bite if someone tried to handle them when they didn't want to be, or they where accidentally stepped on... but then wouldn't most wild animals do this!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the extremely unlikely event that you were bitten by an adder, then you would likely just get a painful swelling and feel a little sick/unwell for a few days... That being said, if you do get bitten by an adder, it is always best to seek medical advice just in case you react badly to it and require some extra care or treatment. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f3_P3GnSRMUkD86_wtn3nmVd4c_HdK1LmTkqK45Wh9LpEpzqxC50C5St7ENzwVWbZ_BK_0xfCC6obu6sjQK_PQOXeS0iP9SsHMJxZRZ7reY_XkdkT1pCWaMdHcs0_jnxc154ajWT4fI/s1024/image7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f3_P3GnSRMUkD86_wtn3nmVd4c_HdK1LmTkqK45Wh9LpEpzqxC50C5St7ENzwVWbZ_BK_0xfCC6obu6sjQK_PQOXeS0iP9SsHMJxZRZ7reY_XkdkT1pCWaMdHcs0_jnxc154ajWT4fI/s640/image7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, they are stunning little snakes though. I spent an hour in with them the morning after they were born and before we opened to the public. We had about 5 adderlings basking on the logs, and when I jumped in the adults all stayed but the youngsters slinked off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sneaking up to the log pile, and hanging around for twenty minutes they slowly begun to crawl back to bask. One even had a slight altercation with a spider, I'm not sure who was more surprised than the other, but fun to watch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpCazVGkM62QG0v1m4nuhK8lPLNNdsFtB23bV6HW8CsuB6Esr-OIv1yQchjNEJ3LsWpUCABzS8aIrMPJyEny6_Y4psaWl427LJxr8ABI76LwIxevVHIhpzMNNE3LBa7iUpG1k4B-vkz8/s1024/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpCazVGkM62QG0v1m4nuhK8lPLNNdsFtB23bV6HW8CsuB6Esr-OIv1yQchjNEJ3LsWpUCABzS8aIrMPJyEny6_Y4psaWl427LJxr8ABI76LwIxevVHIhpzMNNE3LBa7iUpG1k4B-vkz8/s640/image1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If we are talking about baby snakes, we have to mention our grass snakes! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had about 100 eggs in there or so, and about 60 odd have hatched. Take that all those that say they have never seen our grass snakes! :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are much shyer than our adders, but the grass snakelings (hmm, that doesn't quite work as well) our little grass snake neonates are great and some lucky visitors have seen them exploring their compost and swimming across their ponds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcTzb6DYDHbSuPJAklqInJ9HYdcn8F7q3_BRWTdIG2a11Zq9c78sG0U49cPoBUAx2mYUQa_MozllVFMe-VUSrHmygFyauvMvrPFSkSDnZIjYBODS5UQZA3JJ2pNt65IPHbDtdKXJ9zXQ/s1024/image3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcTzb6DYDHbSuPJAklqInJ9HYdcn8F7q3_BRWTdIG2a11Zq9c78sG0U49cPoBUAx2mYUQa_MozllVFMe-VUSrHmygFyauvMvrPFSkSDnZIjYBODS5UQZA3JJ2pNt65IPHbDtdKXJ9zXQ/s640/image3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are pretty cute too aren't they!.. Maybe not so much as the adders, but still something about them. Completely harmless too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcYySwyOGCklUf1dXRPPgXwWogJ2bW2kJlflpdT2HLnaeFq22ajimLwTSbC2788lBgakEF5GFXLMxTM08LeIhNpbGGAeUxn3dcwUKp7s5FsYP8T9gzlWtHFRZ7_mJZeQA5S7UNbWBCRk/s1024/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcYySwyOGCklUf1dXRPPgXwWogJ2bW2kJlflpdT2HLnaeFq22ajimLwTSbC2788lBgakEF5GFXLMxTM08LeIhNpbGGAeUxn3dcwUKp7s5FsYP8T9gzlWtHFRZ7_mJZeQA5S7UNbWBCRk/s640/image2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are a little older, a couple of weeks or so now, but similar in size to our adderlings so pretty difficult to spot. When curled up our little neonates of both types are not much larger than the size of a fifty pence piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are visiting soon, just spend a little time up by the snake enclosures, and with a little patience hopefully you will get to see these stunning little strikers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-59763084570600315702020-08-01T13:39:00.000+01:002020-08-01T13:39:19.092+01:00Wildcat Kittens<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwqlljwQzjwN1_MTsYlu7H-HrFG98sEzcJUbAono26aSwvUcaJyB5PmXzDB_jwioZKfguNKahxALgCl6Dj0DZVm25_21ya5YpHg2L-meFZuMXjDcvujp0yxuh7zhxB1r899ytdfJH2k4/s1024/_MPB0811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwqlljwQzjwN1_MTsYlu7H-HrFG98sEzcJUbAono26aSwvUcaJyB5PmXzDB_jwioZKfguNKahxALgCl6Dj0DZVm25_21ya5YpHg2L-meFZuMXjDcvujp0yxuh7zhxB1r899ytdfJH2k4/w640-h640/_MPB0811.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's been a strange year, a difficult few months, but finally we seem to be getting a little bit back to normality. We have been open to the public again, pre booking only, for the last month and it has been great to see many of you back here to share our wonderful wildlife with and to just give the Centre a "buzz" to the atmosphere. <div><br /></div><div>Blog posts have been absent while we have been working short staffed to keep things moving, but hopefully the office have been keeping you all up to date with the animal news via our social media pages. We have some new arrivals I will introduce you to soon, lots of babies, but perhaps most popular of all at the moment are our two litters of wildcat kittens!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc2gshjSVmDsoCyPZNEC6dpBWPHeSQPQnmKcoBdsLBAq3hIvUj10_quBjeEyWkxsDzEs_FL4ggfFssNwDUkbo9g7GE1d5Kns_zg4p0IRkyGUFgngma2yT5ipMIbgIt-uH2uwhIngN2Xc/s1024/_MPB0847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc2gshjSVmDsoCyPZNEC6dpBWPHeSQPQnmKcoBdsLBAq3hIvUj10_quBjeEyWkxsDzEs_FL4ggfFssNwDUkbo9g7GE1d5Kns_zg4p0IRkyGUFgngma2yT5ipMIbgIt-uH2uwhIngN2Xc/s640/_MPB0847.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Kendra, out experienced mum, gave birth seven and a half weeks a go now to two wildcat kittens. Both strong and healthy. They have been putting on a good show, coming out post days and playing near the back of the enclosure. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then a couple of weeks later Hilda, one of our newest wildcats, gave birth to her first litter. She has also had two strong, healthy kittens, and they are the ones pictured here in this post. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXQaDfGDu8hs-RopTdbZ_YGbGXizGK_HwkhClJFBQ8Eqb7LKflJQ7Fu2BFmNrrknVsuQwoLlHF9zM46dqU8p3NvS56o3KxtBhNsVg-k0qTwneJsOgY9i6v98eFLEVcF1IYiO2xW_0hJE/s1024/_MPB0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXQaDfGDu8hs-RopTdbZ_YGbGXizGK_HwkhClJFBQ8Eqb7LKflJQ7Fu2BFmNrrknVsuQwoLlHF9zM46dqU8p3NvS56o3KxtBhNsVg-k0qTwneJsOgY9i6v98eFLEVcF1IYiO2xW_0hJE/s640/_MPB0855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Don't they look adorable? They have been spotted out a couple of times in the last week by visitors, and will get bolder by the day. One morning when heading in to work early I spotted them out on the log with mum, so dashed back to get my camera and took a few photos. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnz3J37SYZLz9uJFL7kMFYK4IgMVNKgdD4Vs-R-diDpjVN6Mh8dn_SsJiOkwq6S1EP8fTVMtTZul8mFok7BXzcCgX6Jug_Vn5dWm2xgRwF2CkXlABe5Z2ZrYOOvqXgr6xepcp3wx5odw/s1024/_MPB0876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnz3J37SYZLz9uJFL7kMFYK4IgMVNKgdD4Vs-R-diDpjVN6Mh8dn_SsJiOkwq6S1EP8fTVMtTZul8mFok7BXzcCgX6Jug_Vn5dWm2xgRwF2CkXlABe5Z2ZrYOOvqXgr6xepcp3wx5odw/s640/_MPB0876.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This photo may look similar to the one above of the single kitten, but the pose is coincidental... this is of the other kitten. One photo of each. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfMxSO9Pt76DeXUwH_TQ_3dp49-0Rv4AnBUZul2pO-qkTLjqmu_zHepVqITFaSFfMy8DR8Naq9KlMovGTY-WJwd-2n2ZX4SppOuVp83LpRAqJoEudd-OpXiWxl7pgVCwqoMCUOWSle5M/s1024/_MPB0880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfMxSO9Pt76DeXUwH_TQ_3dp49-0Rv4AnBUZul2pO-qkTLjqmu_zHepVqITFaSFfMy8DR8Naq9KlMovGTY-WJwd-2n2ZX4SppOuVp83LpRAqJoEudd-OpXiWxl7pgVCwqoMCUOWSle5M/w640-h640/_MPB0880.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look how amazingly blue their eyes are!.. Kittens always have brilliant blue eyes when first born, slowly changing to the greener eyes of adult hood, but this litter has the bluest eyes I have ever seen in a wildcat kitten. Stunning! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep your eyes on the first two wildcat enclosures if you do decide to visit, the first pen has Hilda and her kittens in it and the second Kendra and her two kittens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-30237002908783109262020-05-30T17:45:00.000+01:002020-05-30T17:46:19.941+01:00Water Voles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our new display family of water voles have been out on the island for about 2 months now, and have settled in extremely well. Some may think this is due to the lockdown we are currently in, and no visitors being here... and maybe that has helped a little, but to be honest our water voles normally settle fairly quickly once they are out on the island. It is a very large, natural enclosure for them and so plenty of space to hide if they so wish. </div>
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I took the photo at the top of Walter, one of our male voles, a few days a go. It was a quick snap and go while he was eating breakfast and I was doing routines, but it made me think I must spend a bit of time with them and my camera. Yesterday morning was that time!.. I had a few minutes, so spent ten of them in around the island with my camera. The voles are active on and off through out the day, but usually have a peak around 10am. That's when I was there. </div>
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I managed to see all five... Walt, Skyler, Saul, Gus and Jessie. All looking good and healthy. They do eat what we offer them, but can also munch away on pretty much everything in their natural enclosure so would likely survive even if we didn't offer any extra food. They would miss their apple treat every morning though. </div>
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If all out together I could probably tell them apart, but would be trickier to do so one at a time... except for Walter and Skyler who are a bit more obvious. Mainly you can tell by behaviour though. Some are bolder than others, some use different track to the others, some prefer different feed stations etc. </div>
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For example, this little one above is one of the youngsters. A female called Jessie. Very shy compared to her siblings, and often just playing peek-a-boo out from one of the holes in the main island... waiting for you to not look before she makes a quick dash to one of the feed islands.<br />
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Having the 'moat' around the main island allows our water voles to swim naturally as they would in the wild, and deep enough for them to dive and swim below surface if they wish to. Again they show different personalities when swimming. Some more relaxed than others, some preferring under water to above, and some freezing in place when spotted while others dash off, dive under or just carry on unbothered.<br />
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If you sit still, even if only for ten minutes, you get to see a lot of action... and quite possibly even all five voles. The way they move around and keep popping up from different tunnels though, you may well think there are more than that in there.<br />
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We also have some frogs in there. A few common frogs, and some marsh and even pool frogs too.<br />
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Once restrictions are lifted, and you are able to come and visit again, it will be well worth spending a bit of time by our water voles. Even if only for ten minutes, as I did here, you will get to see plenty of behaviour. Best time will likely be shortly after we open in the morning... around 10am for the first hour or so.<br />
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<br />Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-15014551355564246552020-05-10T19:51:00.000+01:002020-05-10T19:51:54.040+01:00"Dance of the Adders" 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A little later than I would of hoped, but here are a couple of photos and videos of our adders "dancing" this year. These are two of our males, Draco and Lucius, fighting or competing over a female. This fight displays itself in a rhythmic display of them intwining their bodies together, often raising the first third of their body off the ground, and trying to push each other away. The force of the interaction means they occasionally fling apart from each other but are unlikely to get hurt or injured. They never bite each other.<br />
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It is a beautiful thing to watch, and something I look forward to every year. Because of the motion and delicacy of it all it is often called the "dance of the adders".<br />
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Our adders finished "dancing" just over a week ago so here are a couple of video clips below. One brief, and one a little longer from a different angle and more close up. Also a couple more photos form this year... not much time to take any more I'm afraid due to the strange circumstances we find ourselves in, but at least some record shots.<br />
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Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-55410519735576777722020-04-08T07:59:00.000+01:002020-04-08T07:59:30.561+01:00Farewell to Clyde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sadly last Friday Clyde the pine marten passed away. He died peacefully in his sleep of old age, he wasn't far from twenty! Many of you who have visited over the end of last year, early this year, will know he was getting very frail and slow. Due to his cataracts he was blind for the last few months, but knowing his pen inside out was still able to climb and wander around to find everything.<br />
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Working closely with our animals, you always build a bond with them, and as most of you will know I had a particular bond with our pine martens. Clyde was one of the first pine martens I ever worked with, and as such helped to guide and nurture my love and respect for these beautiful animals. I spent a lot of time working with him on an almost daily basis, and as such he was arguably the most friendliest pine marten you would of met!<br />
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Losing an animal is always a sad time, but some hit your harder than others. I talk to the animals, crazy I know, but I really think it helps them to associate your voice with calm and stressless times. Clyde I used to talk to about everything, all the good and bad going on in my little world, and so in some ways you could say he knew me better than anyone!Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645347058576950495.post-31857583988263852622020-03-31T18:39:00.000+01:002020-03-31T18:39:46.954+01:00New Wildcats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All new cat pens are now occupied, and we have three new cats... or at least new on view... to introduce to you. Later last year we collected a couple of sisters who were born at Edinburgh zoo. "Hilda" above and "Agnes" below. They are both to become part of the breeding programme, and to take over from Kendra and Iona who have done so well for us in the past in rearing kittens. </div>
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You can see that Agnes is still rather shy. She was the last cat to be put on display, while we were waiting for her new enclosure to dry out after the works and slight flooding, but while there are no visitors coming in it is the perfect chance for her to settle in well. I tried to get a nice photo of her over the last few days, but alas... she decided she didn't want to pose.<br />
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Another new cat who came to us earlier this year from the West Country Wildlife Centre, was "Atticus" above. Handsome face! He is still rather young, and still settling in, but will also be joining our breeding programme. Another shy cat, but again hopefully will settle well while we are closed and be a little bolder once visitors start to come back.<br />
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Hilda though!.. she is a superstar already. Some of you have met her already, as she was on display for the last weekend before our shutdown. She is the opposite of her sister, very bold, and seems to love the attention. She has been paired up with our male Braveheart. Some more photos of her below... check out those stunning green eyes!<br />
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<br />Matt Binsteadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07385381020753239358noreply@blogger.com2