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Woburn Safari Park

Wild animals roaming free

Open winter weekends and all day during the summer Woburn Safari Park is full day of excitement and entertainment. Drive through the Safari Park and see a wide variety of animals, all roaming free within the separate areas of the park. The park is home to lions, tigers, zebras, elephants and lots more, all of which are perfectly used to cars and will come up for a close look, or just stay basking in the sunshine as you drive past. You can see rhinos, bears and of course the famous monkeys. Alternatively there is a foot safari trail as well. You can go around the safari trail as often as you want and see the animals several times if you wish.

Aside from the park you can eat in the restaurants and to make sure they sleep well, set the kids free on the award-winning high wire forest adventure course with rope bridges, Tarzan swings and slides, all located in a wooded area with plenty to climb on and lots to do. Still a great day, out prices vary with the seasonal opening so check the website before you visit.

For information...

The Woburn Safari Park website is very good and provides a journey planner and maps of the park to make sure you don't miss a thing. The park office can be contacted on 01525 290407.

The website also provides useful information about driving in close proximity to wild animals and that section is essential reading before you visit, as some types of cars cannot be allowed in to the drive round park for safety reasons. There are restrictions on dogs, but the park can provide kennelling facilities for the duration of your trip.

Getting there

The post code for the park is MK17 9QN.

Journey time from Shefford: 35mins (16 miles). If you're going from Shefford, drive towards Ampthill on the A507 and the route is signposted from there.

Woburn Deer Park

£2.50 entrance fee (2010 prices) will get you in to over 3000 acres of deer park situated next door to the famous Safari Park. The deer park is home to nine different species of deer, including Chinese Water Deer, Fallow Deer and Red Deer. You can walk or drive around the park and refreshments are available.

If you are under 16 or have a valid ticket to Woburn Safari Park, entrance is FREE. More information can be obtained at main Woburn Safari Park website.

Whipsnade Zoo

A wonderful place to see wild animals close up

A favourite day out for many children, and one often remembered well into adulthood, is a trip to the zoo. Whipsnade Zoo, owned and run by the Zoological Society of London, is situated just outside Dunstable and is very well signposted from all the entry routes to the town.

It is home to over 2,500 animals, many of which are now endangered species in the wild. The setting is superb as the zoo is perched right on top of Dunstable Downs and on a clear day you can, quite literally, see for miles.

You can either use the car park and walk round the zoo, but if you decide to do this, be advised that the zoo covers many acres and the walk is quite long, so come prepared , especially on hot and sunny days. Remember the push chair if you have younger children. Alternatively, you can drive round the park and stop to see the various animal enclosures, but on busy days it can be a little difficult to park at some of the more popular areas.

The zoo has its own railway which will take you through a large part and some of the animals you can see are rhinos, elephants, wolves, chimps and of the course the penguins and the sea-lion.

The zoo doesn't use cages at all, but obviously some of the animals have to be kept in secure enclosures. These are large and give the animals plenty of space to roam. Some of the other animals are allowed to roam totally unrestricted. The zoo also run an adoption scheme, where you can adopt an animal, and the money helps to pay for its upkeep, which would make a marvellous present for any young child.

Admission prices (2010)

Ticket prices from January 2010 are shown on their website. However, these prices will change for the summer season, so call or check the website if you're planning a visit after March 2010.

You can visit the zoo website at www.zsl.org and select Whipsnade from the banner at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can call for information on 01582 872171. Please remember the ticket prices currently on their site will soon be updated for the summer, so call before your trip to check the new admission prices.

Getting there

Whipsnade is a popular destination for one day coach excursions. So if you don't want to take the car, check the local papers for coach company advertisements.

The post code for the SatNav is LU6 2LF although most SatNavs will have the zoo listed as an attraction.

Journey time from Shefford: 50mins (23 miles)

RSPB Sandy

Birds galore!

Situated just outside Sandy, the RSPB nature reserve is a great place to take children of any age if they like birds and love the countryside. The reserve, which was opened in 1961, covers nearly 450 acres of woodland, and when fully restored it will be Bedfordshire's largest area of heath land. It provides many opportunities to watch dozens of different species of birds in their natural habitat. The reserve has several kilometres of paths and trails, and also has hides where the birds can be viewed.

The reserve has ample car parking, a very good shop with disabled access and a lovely area for a picnic. Children are especially well catered for with back packs available from the shop, containing binoculars, bug viewers, wildlife information and activity booklets.

Admission details

The reserve is open from 9am to 9pm (or sunset when earlier). The shop is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm at weekends and Bank Holidays.

If you are an RSPB member, or simply want to use the shop, there is no charge to park. Non-members will need to buy a ticket to park which will cost £4.00. That ticket will last for you entire stay on the reserve.

The RSPB website provides all details on prices and opening times throughout the year. There are a range of activities for children to stimulate their interest in birds. If you want to become a member of the RSPB check out the membership benefits.

Getting there

To get there by car, take the B1042 Potton road from Sandy town centre. You will pass the railway station on your right, and should see the Sandy Heath transmitting mast in front of you. After 1.2miles (1.75km), at the top of the hill, you will see the reserve entrance on your right. The website will give you information on how to get there by train or bus.

The post code for the SatNav is SG19 2DL but the website has a download SatNav "places of interest" file that will load the route straight in.

Wild Britain

Background

Formally known as the Bedford Butterfly Park, this site is home to hundreds of different butterflies together with other animals including bugs and spiders, so if you or your children want to get up close and very personal with a tarantula, this is the place for you.

The butterflies are free flying in a purpose built "jungle" and can be seen in all the different stages of their development. The environment is maintained to keep the butterfly comfortable so for us humans the "jungle" area is both hot and humid, but not unpleasantly so by any means.

The staff at the Bedford Butterfly Park really like the kids to enjoy their visit and offer "meet the keeper" sessions where you can become acquainted with some of the animals at really close quarters. They also offer a range of other activities and for the very young there is a petting zoo with rabbits, guinea pigs and goats. If the weather is good, you can also visit the outside hedgehog trail.

Admission details and Directions

Admission rates are: Adults £6.00, Under 16s £4.50, Under 2s FREE, Concessions £5.50.

Wild Britain is on the edge of Wilden, 4 miles North East of Bedford. The park opens at the end of March and the exact opening date can be found on the Bedford Butterfly Park website and they can be contacted on 01234 772770.

The post code for SatNavs is MK44 2PX. Journey time from Shefford: 40mins (14 miles).

As Wilden can be a little hard to find without a SatNav, you may find this map, reproduced from the Wild Britain website, very useful. On their site you will find more detailed instructions on how to find this fascinating park.

Standalone Farm, Letchworth

A great family farm

A change of style form the large zoos and safari parks is Standalone Farm, which is a great place to visit for younger children. The farm is on the outskirts of Letchworth and, besides being open to visitors, is a fully operational and working farm. Letchworth was the world's first Garden City and also the site of the UK's first roundabout, which is still there today. The farm covers over 170 acres and visitors can see a wide variety of animals including a shire horse, sows and piglets, sheep, cows and donkeys. You can also feed the many different types of chickens kept there as well.

The farm has a cafeteria and a picnic area as well as a hide which overlooks a lake and is ideal for bird watching, so if you are a would-be "twitcher" don't forget the binoculars. The farm is great to visit in the spring, and if you go during then, don't be surprised if you see ewes lambing.

Admission details

The farm is open every day from March 1st right through to the last day of October, from 11am to 5pm, with the last admissions at 4pm. Give yourself a good couple of hours to look round.

Admission (2010 prices):

• Adults: £4.95
• Child/OAP: £3.95
• Registered Disabled: £2.00
• Under 2s: FREE of charge
• Day Ticket: £19.95 (admits 6 people, a maximum of 3 adults)
• Family Season Ticket - £64.00 (Both parents and up to 3 Children)
• Grandparents Added to Family Ticket - £5.00

More information

The web site address is www.standalonefarm.com but much more information about the farm is available on the Letchworth Garden City website, or on the Letchworth Tourist Information website, under the "places to visit" section.

The farm office can be contacted on 01462-686775.

Getting there

The farm is located on Wilbury Road, Letchworth. The post code is SG6 4JN.

Journey time from Shefford: 20mins (7 miles)

For those of you who really want to know, the UK's first roundabout, built in 1909, can be seen at the junction of Broadway, Sollershott West, Sollershott East and Spring Road.