51°46′25″N 1°39′15″W / 51.77361°N 1.65417°W / 51.77361; -1.65417

Cotswold Wildlife Park
51°46′25″N 1°39′15″W / 51.77361°N 1.65417°W / 51.77361; -1.65417
Date opened1970
Locationnr Burford, Oxfordshire, England
Land areaWildlife Park: 48 acres (0.19 km2), Gardens: 160 acres (0.65 km2)
No. of species260+ (2012)
Major exhibitsWalled Garden, 'Madagascar', Woodland Walk, Reptile House, Bat House, Insect House, Tropical House, Railway, Adventure Playground.
Websitecotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

The Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens exhibits over 260 different species of animals. The park is set in 160 acres (0.65 km2) of landscaped parkland and gardens 2 miles south of Burford, on the A361, Oxfordshire, England. Around 350,000 people visited the park in 2012.[1]

Animal exhibits

History

In 1804 the estate's owner William Hervey had the current manor house called Bradwell Grove Manor House designed by William Atkinson and built by Richard Pace of Lechlade, in the then-fashionable Georgian Gothic style. This followed the example of Strawberry Hill, Horace Walpole's masterpiece at Twickenham. The house replaced an original 17th-century Jacobean residence, part of which was incorporated into the north service wing. Hervey also planted a great number of trees in the park, many of which can still be seen including a huge wellingtonia tree on the west lawn. This tree is over 40 metres high and can be seen on the skyline from many miles away.[3]

In 1923 the house and estate were purchased by Colonel Heyworth-Savage,[4] and on his death when killed in action in North Africa on 28 December 1941[5] the estate was passed to his grandson John Heyworth. John Heyworth was born in the manor house on 21 August 1925[6] and when he left school he served from 1943 to 1947 in the Royal Dragoons, the regiment which had been commanded by his father. The house was rented out for twenty years to Oxford Regional Hospital Board, until in 1969 John Heyworth decided to open the gardens to the public, and since 1970 the house has been the heart of the Wildlife Park. John Heyworth died on 24 November 2012, and now the managing director is his son Reggie Heyworth.

The Walled Garden was originally a kitchen garden, the area now houses the marmosets and tamarins, contained cold fruit frames full of parma violets and other delicate plants, and on the site of the gardeners' greenhouse stood two structures reputed to be the oldest greenhouses in Oxfordshire.[7] The Tropical House has taken the place of three adjoining greenhouses, the first for carnations, the second for rare hot-house plants and a fig tree, and the third for nectarines and peaches. The water supply for the Walled Garden came from a central well now covered over but still marked. There was a cricket pitch on what is now the grass car park, and two grass tennis courts outside the drawing room and brass-rubbing room. Many years ago, there was even a private nine-hole golf course covering what is now the ostrich enclosure and surrounding area.

The manor house now has various roles, with its many rooms being used as visitor areas. The old dining room – still with its original curtains, panelling and fireplace – has become the brass-rubbing centre; the drawing room is used for meetings, exhibitions and conferences; the library is now a bar area; the original kitchen has been turned into a storeroom and a self-contained flat; and other rooms are used as administration and maintenance offices, storerooms and staff accommodation. Even the maze of cellars is used for hibernating certain species from the reptile collection. The old stables and other out-buildings now the reptile and bat houses, classrooms, offices and the quarantine area. The billiard room is now the restaurant kitchen, and its billiard table was turned into the lower tier of the waterfall in the penguin enclosure.[8]

Railway

The narrow gauge railway. Locomotive 4 Bella in service.

The Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway (CWP) is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge[9] railway operating around the wildlife park. Journeys begin and end at Bradwell Grove Station, located on the edge of the woods between the owl aviaries and the Walled Garden, which is equipped with wooden platforms (one each for boarding and alighting passengers), two large waiting shelters, a staff room, and a large booking office. Tickets for train travel are purchased separately from park admission tickets.

History

Construction of the railway began in 1974, with the end-to-end line arranged in a horseshoe shape from the current station round the manor house to a second station beside the giant tortoise enclosure. It opened officially on 27 April 1975, with the first passengers carried following an opening ceremony by Dr Desmond Morris.[10]

The original locomotive was a red-liveried steam-outline four-wheel diesel engine. Passengers travelled in bogie carriages of over-sized width, with transverse bench seating, clerestory roofs, and end balconies for loading; the carriages were painted in a two-tone livery of beige and cream.

The coaches were replaced with new vehicles supplied by Alan Keef Ltd, maintaining the original beige livery, with a cream relief band. These new coaches were subsequently upgraded, with new doors. Four coaches are in service - a 20 seat saloon, two with 16 seats and a guard’s compartment, and one with 16 seats plus a wheelchair accessible compartment.

The line was extended and upgraded from 2006-2007, with the track extended between the two stations to complete the circuit, and Bradwell Grove Station extensively rebuilt. The station and the extended line were officially opened by the local MP, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron, on 5 May 2007.

Locomotives

All four locomotives to have operated on the line have been diesel powered, but with steam outline (S/O) appearance, to resemble steam engines. The livery for locomotives, originally red, is currently dark green.

Number Name Builder Date built Type Status Notes
1 Beaver Ruston & Hornsby 1940
(CWP from 1974)
4wDM S/O Sold. In New Zealand since 1984. R&H #202969.
View image.
2 Oliver Motor Rail (Simplex) 1953
(CWP from 1977)
4wDM S/O Sold. At BWLR since 2010. Motor Rail #9869.
3 Otis Alan Keef Ltd 1985
(Built new for CWP)
0-4-0DH S/O Operational. Refurbished 2023.
View image.
4 Bella Alan Keef Ltd 2003
(Built new for CWP)
0-4-0DH S/O Operational. Primary engine.
View image.

The locomotive Beaver was originally built during World War II for the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply and used to operate trains transporting ammunition on gun ranges and airfields. It was sold in the 1970s and was re-bodied with a steam outline, subsequently serving at Cotswold Wildlife Park from 1974. The engine was withdrawn and sold through Alan Keef Ltd, moving to New Zealand in 1984. The rebuilt engine is still in service, and since 2012 has been at the Blenheim Riverside Railway on South Island, New Zealand.[11]

The locomotive Oliver was originally supplied to the Great Ouse River Authority, Ely, in 1953, where it operated until 1977. The Simplex was then rebodied with a steam outline and named Oliver for use at Cotswold Wildlife Park.[12] The engine eventually fell into disrepair, and arrived at the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway in 2010, where it has been restored to original condition and renamed Bicknor.[12]

The engine Otis was built for Cotswold Wildlife Park Railway (the first purpose-built locomotive) by Alan Keen Ltd in 1985.[13] It returned to the builder in 2023 for a major overhaul, including the replacement of the diesel engine and transmission, and remains in service.

The primary engine is called Bella in memory of one of the original pair of white rhinos at the park, Bella and Bull, which arrived in 1972 from the Umfolozi Game reserve in South Africa.[10] The engine was built by Alan Keef Ltd in 2003, and remains in service, though the dome has been reduced in height.

Park and gardens

Gardens

The park is well known for its exotic planting, particularly in the favourable micro-climate of the Walled Garden, where bananas and cannas are a speciality. There is a huge pair of Californian redwood trees, imposing tree ferns and giant rhubarb with unusual foliage.

The exotic birds and animals are complemented by flamboyant planting schemes. The South Terrace has been given a period feel, although in fact the terrace, balustrade and pond were constructed in 1989, thanks to a generous legacy from a regular visitor to the park, Miss Daisy Louise Eley. By contrast, the planting around the West Terrace, in front of and around the restaurant is more contemporary. In May the front of the restaurant is draped in wisteria flowers. The 'Winter Garden', between the owls and the siamang gibbons is planted with a wide range of perennials, bulbs and woody plants with an emphasis on providing interest in winter.

Bamboo is a particular favourite at the park, with over fifty varieties planted. They are cut regularly for browse for the animals. The bamboo grows well here because of regular mulching of rhino manure. There is prairie-style planting around the rhino paddock to echo the African plains. The remains of a huge cedar of Lebanon in the Adventure Playground now supports the children's tree house and slide.

Conservation

As of October 2006, the Cotswold Wildlife Park holds 40 species, which are part of either an ESB (European Studbook) or EEP (European Endangered Species Programme). It is the studbook holder for the red-crested turaco and Mount Omei babbler. In addition, both the crested pigeon and blue-winged kookaburra are monitored species. In August 2015, the park announced that a second white rhinoceros had been born at the park.[14]

All photographs were taken in the park.

References

  1. "Cotswold Wildlife Park". UK Zoo Directory. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  2. "News: Madagascar Coming". Cotswold Wildlife Park website. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  3. "Bradwell Grove Manor House, Oxfordshire, England genealogy project". geni_family_tree. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  4. "Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Heyworth". geni_family_tree. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  5. "Heyworth_R F_9337". ww2.householdcavalrymemorial.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. "John Heyworth". 7 December 2012. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. "The Gardens". Cotswold Wildlife Park. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. "A Little Piece of History". Cotswold Wildlife Park website. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  9. "Tourist and Enthusiast Railways - West Midlands". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Wild Talk 2020: 50 Years Young" (PDF). Cotswold Wildlife Park. 2020. p. 9. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  11. "Ruston & Hornsby 'Beaver'". Blenheim Riverside Railway. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Diesel Locos". Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway. p. No.12 Bicknor. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  13. Lorah, Education and Activities Officer (2023). "WORD FROM THE WILD: The Latest News From The Park - Extra, extra". Cotswold Wildlife Park. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  14. "White Rhino Born at Cotswold Wildlife Park". Zoo Borns. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
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