OK - please feel free to comment on this idea...

Westbury Wildlife Park reopens to the public as a site to walk around, enjoy the fantastic views, its resident flora and fauna and maybe take in a picnic. Sorry no dogs allowed and children must be kept under very strict supervision because of the easy access into the river Trym itself and also the many spring-fed ponds on the site. There are no animals in cages - in fact all cages and existing fencing from the former park days are removed. The three Shetland Ponies (the only animals actually left from the original park remain to live out the rest of their lives free roaming the site as they have done for many years now.

Cheers

Hi Tony thanks for the input., i agree this is a major issue. For the record i am a friend of Jacki Young who is one of the four trustees of the Westbury Wildlife Park Foundation. I have been involved with the park on and off since 1982, and have been able to spend a considerable amount of time over the last six Months on site working on a small project of my own. Visiting the park site this regularly has prompted me into this present activity. Myself and Jacki have been discussing various ideas and we need feedback from people in the village to put a plan together.

The park has two car parks, the lower one is also licensed for use by the River of life church a couple of days a week, the top one is at present totally overgrown but could be bought back into use or kept with bramble cleared and added benches as a place for picnics. Bottom line is do you seriously keep this massive and beautiful site gated and padlocked to all but a select few because of parking? - seems a pitiful reason. This is partly for my suggesting opening the site in a very low key way - no big 'attractions', in many ways almost an extension of Badock's wood. The question is what numbers of people would be attracted, absolutely no way of knowing, only way to find out is open it but i can't see the place being overun. In my experience WOT''s streets are always busy and parking can be a pain most times most of the day as it is a busy village. On the other hand more visitors to WOT will benefit trade to shops, pubs and cafes...

Keep it going

Cheers

Hi Tony,

No i'm not Jenny! - Jenny is the niece of one of the trustees. I am a 45 year old male who runs a tree surgery business (Chameleon Tree Services hence the logo..)

You're right, my idea is the site itself is the attraction. I do not want animals in cages - i want to dismantle all the existing(decaying) fencing and old pens and shelters. Any plan to reopen as any kind of major attraction will not get backing because of the parking/traffic problems, also my plan is frankly the cheapest option, it's really a demolition clearance job to get the place back to it's natural beauty. I am personally able to get the tree/scrub work done at my own cost. I will be meeting with two of the trustees this coming Wednesday to discuss my plan for approval by them. If i get the go ahead i will post photo's, in the meantime wander up to the entrance and look down the main path into the park and picture it without all the fencing or pens covering the centre pond....

Cheers

Hi Tony,

Jenny is busy with other projects so forgive her lack of reply, her Father is well aware of my proposals and he lives in the tower which was refurbished quite a few years ago.
Regarding the spring, yep, i've been tinkering around with it for some time so have become familiar with it. It effectively feeds six ponds in total via five separate feeds. It's a great asset to have on the site as well as the river itself. All the ponds leak to some extent but they can be refurbished. Their visual benefit alone is a major asset to the park not even mentioning their benefit to wildlife in and around them. I don't get your idea of filling them in? - if it's safety - kids/water then this is just a massive issue that has to be resolved because of the river itself running the length of the site. I cannot see it being fenced off, it never has been even when the park was open and would look hideous. Blaise doesn't do this, Badock's doesn't iether, we will have to see.

Cheers

Hi Sharpshooter, The river and ponds are brilliant and very valuable assets and help make the site what it is. With further clearance of the river bank trees and sorting out the ponds more wildfowl will become resident - the small amount already done has proved that. No flag waving - absolutely!, also i now agree the top car park should be brought back into use and will add that to my proposal to the trustees on Wednesday. Cheers.

Hi Sharpshooter, Great idea. If things go well on Wed' i will line up a whole load of people with specific experience to visit the site. Cheers

Fantastic and very well done. I'll be looking out for your next post.

Hi Sharpshooter,

(Apologies - lost your darn email!!)

It's all looking good to go, Largebigkey will be posting contact details etc asap and then the work really starts but there is a now plan and it makes coherent sense for this amazing site.

Cheers for your support

I have had a meeting to day with the trustees of the park. I have now decided because of the atmosphere between myself and one of the trustees not to proceed with this project. However the main trustee is adamant that they are going to get things moving. They have starting to work on the site and in the near future say they will need volunteers to help. I wish them all the best for there future plans.