ELMC are taking us to the zoo tomorrow
Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow
ELMC are taking us to the zoo tomorrow
And we can stay all day
The refrain was heard repeatedly by the Young Peoples’ neighbours on the evening of Sunday 13th April. On the Monday morning after coach pick-ups at Middleton Masonic Hall and Hewlett Court we were on our way to Blackpool Zoo.
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo
After a swift and comfortable journey we arrived at the zoo. Our group was quickly processed through reception to start our day of discovery, amusement and wonderment. Don’t forget to take your activity book to complete the “ What am I “, “ I Spy” and “ Wordsearch” . For many the first stop was the Base Camp.
See the elephant with the long trunk swingin’
Great big ears and a long trunk swingin’
Snuffin’ up peanuts with a long trunk swingin’
And we can stay all day
Project Elephant Base Camp is the biggest investment in the history of Blackpool Zoo, opened in March 2018, it is designed around the complex welfare needs of the mammoth species. The largest indoor area in the UK and an outdoor area with sanded areas, bathing pool and landscaped grass paddock. Base Camp is home to Kate, who has been at Blackpool Zoo since 1972, and her 5 companions, females Tara, Minbu, Noorjahan, Esha, and Emmett, a bull elephant.
The next area is Dinosaur Safari. Come face to face with the terrifying tyrannosaurus rex, mighty marine reptiles, awesome pterodactyls and more than 30 other stunning prehistoric creatures. Dinosaur Safari takes you through 4 ages, over running streams and even behind a living curtain of water. Sound effects and thousands of authentic living plants and trees bring the prehistoric world vividly to life.
Lions and Tigers, Giraffes, Asian Otters, Tapirs are the next animals to view followed by the primates, Lowland Gorillas and Orangutans. The baby orangutans are cute.
Well, the seal lions in the pool all honk-honk-honkin’
They’re catchin’ the fish and honk-honk-honkin’
The seal lions all honk-honk-honkin’
And we can stay all day
The sea lion shows were a great attraction for the Young People and the adults. There are regular shows throughout the day. Next door the penguin feeding times also caused great excitment. All children enjoy the chance to pet their favourite farm animals and the Childrens’ Farm provides all with the opportunity to stroke the sheep, lambs, goats and spend time in the playground.
See all the monkeys they’re scritch- scritch scratchin’
Jumpin’ around and scritch-scritch scratchin’
Hangin’ by the long-tail scritch-scritch scratchin
And we can stay all day
There are many types of monkeys to see at the zoo: Squirrel, Debrazza’s, King Colobus, Red Titi, Cotton-top Tamarin, Ring Tailed Lemur. Everybody wants to see the monkeys and their antics and squabbles. The zoo has a wide variety of birds ranging in size from Ostriches to Java Zebra finches, and enclosures allowing you to walk through and be close to our feathered friends.
After all of the walking, talking, watching, listening, laughing, eating, drinking it was time to leave the zoo, join the others and board the coach for the short journey to The Venue on Thornton Cleveleys promenade. We had been lucky with the weather during our time at the zoo. It was sunny but a strong wind made it feel cold. On our journey to The Venue the rains came which meant we weren’t able to have a walk on the beach before the buffet meal was served. The inclement weather gave us a chance to enjoy a drink before the meal and chat about our day at the zoo. Walking around a zoo builds an appetite and the buffet meal provided by The Venue did not disappoint. There was plenty of food for everyone.
It was time to board the coach for the return journey to Hewlett Court and Middleton.
Well we’ve stayed all day and I’m gettin’ sleepy
Sittin’ in the coach gettin’ sleep, sleep, sleepy
Home already and I’m sleep, sleep, sleepy
“Cause we stayed all day
It was a quiet journey home. Lots of sleepy heads dreaming of their day at the zoo and future adventures. At the Hewlett Court and Middleton drop-offs it was time for hurried goodbyes, everybody wanted to be home and off to bed. There was still time to collect their Easter Egg gift from the ELMC.
Our day at Blackpool Zoo was a great success. However these events don’t just happen. There is a lot of planning and effort expended in making sure all of our Young People can be involved. The committee’s thanks go to Karen and Debra for managing the invitations and replies, booking the transport, tickets for the zoo, liaising with The Venue regarding the buffet, creating the itinerary and Activity Book.
Thanks also go to Luke, our driver from Swan’s Travel, the staff at The Venue for their patience and good food and the reception at Blackpool Zoo for effecting a swift entrance to the zoo.
We’ve been to the zoo, zoo, zoo
So have you, you, you
And you came too, too, too
We’ve been to the zoo, zoo, zoo
Report by Roger Tinker, Chairman of YPC