S-noah's ark

Last updated 16 Feb 2009 10:50 2 Comments

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THROUGHOUT the freezing weather, staff at a wildlife park vowed 'the snow must go on' when caring for their animals - even mucking in on Christmas Day.

Dedicated workers at Beale Park in Lower Basildon trudged round the 350-acre site every day with extra food and bedding to keep creatures great and small safe and ready for the park's early reopening this Saturday.

Curator Dave Coles, 56, said: "Some of the animals actually quite enjoyed the snow.

"We've got some fairly young goats there and it was something different for them to skip and hop around in. They like playing about in it. When there is heavy snow we need to go round and check everything.

"It made the paths a bit treacherous and getting round with the food a bit more time consuming."

Despite popular warnings about working with children or animals, Mr Cole relishes the "challenge" of caring for his charges and added: " It's never the same. It's what I enjoy doing."

He bred birds while he was growing up and at 15 got a job at Chester Zoo. His advice to youngsters wanting to follow in his footsteps is: "Try and do some volunteering and try and get some qualifications. It's not that easy to get into zoos unless you have those."

Beale Park was founded in 1956 by philanthropist and peacock enthusiast Gilbert Beale, who established it as a charitable trust.

It is now home to farm animals as well as more exotic species and is a popular choice for school trips and days out.

Its newest inhabitants are a gaze of raccoons on loan from Newquay Zoo. Mr Coles said: "They won't be on show until round about Easter because they are getting acclimatised and being quarantined.

"They should provide a bit of interest. They are quite fun and inquisitive.

"They are quite fascinating things. Lots of kids are familiar with them through cartoons."

The park boasts a miniature railway, deer park and lakes, and work has been done over the winter to improve the Little Tikes play area, while a rearing area has been built for baby birds and other animals.

Park director Nick Bailey said: "2009 will see further investment, as we pick up on visitors' feedback and suggestions.

"In fact, we are already in the process of building changing facilities next to the paddling pools and creating a historical account of the park for display in the ticket office."

Mr Cole added: "It changes every year so, even if you've been before, new things have come online to make your visit more interesting. There is always something new to see. There are improvements all the way down the line."

Beale Park will be open 10am-5pm every day from Saturday. During the off-peak season until March 20 children over two pay £4 and adults £6, rising to £6 for children in the peak season and £8.50 for adults. Discounts are available for the disabled, their helpers, pensioners, students, families and groups.

Beale Park is off the A329 in Lower Basildon.

Contact Beale Park on 0844 826 1761 or visit www.bealepark.co.uk

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 12 Feb 09

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