Latest news with #Longleat
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Wiltshire in Pictures: Bees, parks and Longleat's mazes
There is a distinctly natural feel to this week's Wiltshire in Pictures, with a bumblebee duo, maze trimming and an award-winning park all featuring in the week has also seen the completion of a walking sports festival in Melksham and a celebration of businesses which support Special Educational Needs Education (Send) in is some of the best pictures from across the county this week. Blooming marvellous: A historic Wiltshire park has been recognised for its exceptional management and environmental standards. Swindon's Town Gardens has received a Green Flag Award for 2025-26, which has recognised its well-maintained Victorian features and active community engagement programmes. A-maze-ing: A team of 12 gardeners have completed a weeklong hedge cut on the gigantic Longleat maze. The maze, which is made up of more than 16,000 English yew trees, is one of the largest in the world and needs regular attention, but can only be trimmed at certain times of the year. Game, set and stroll: More than 90 people laced up their trainers and joined the fun at a Walking Sports Festival held at Melksham Community Campus on Sunday. The free event gave people of all ages and abilities the chance to try out walking versions of tennis, rugby, football, netball and badminton. County roads, take me home: With the county's fields at their golden peak, Weather Watcher Chully was able to capture this shot of a pristine Calne morning earlier in the week. Over the ridge: Another of our Weather Watchers has been busy in the south of the county, with Broad Chalke's majestic hillsides captured by Lupin. True colours: With the wetter weather at the start of the week, observant photographers had the opportunity to capture a number of fleeting rainbows, such as this one in Malmesbury. Stellar support: 16 companies across Wiltshire have been recognised by Wiltshire Council for their outstanding support in offering workplace opportunities to young people with Council's Send Employer Champion Scheme celebrated its one-year anniversary with companies from across the county being acknowledged.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
Center Parcs launches first-ever new adventure attraction at UK holiday park in time for summer
CENTER Parcs has opened a new treetop experience at one of their holiday parks in the UK - the first of its kind for the resort. Opening at Longleat July 1, Adventure Nets allows families to "bounce, balance, leap and climb through the stunning redwood canopy", according to Center Parcs. 5 The attraction features a number of treehouses that are connected by suspended nets, seven metres in the air. Visitors can crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges and enjoy a trampoline area at the attraction too. Families on the course can also use TAG Active technology which allows guests to 'tag' beacons around the course and play TAG games such as treasure hunts in their hour-session. Sarah Deverill, village director at Center Parcs, said: "We're thrilled to launch our first-ever Adventure Nets attraction which will allow kids to connect with nature in a daring way, building their confidence and sense of adventure immersed amongst the stunning redwood at Longleat Forest. "Our team have worked around the clock to ensure the experience is ready to welcome families to bounce, climb and laugh their way through the treetops this summer." The Adventure Nets are available to pre-book for all Longleat Forest guests and is open to children aged three and older. In total, each session is 70-minutes long - which includes a 10-minute safety briefing, followed by 60-minutes of play. Center Parcs' site at Longleat Forest is located within an ancient woodland. The park has multiple activities on offer, including a themed gold adventure and escape rooms. There are also a number of restaurants at the site. For those looking for a bit of R&R, there is the Aqua Sana Forest Spa - boasting 24 spa experiences including the 'Forest Cavern' and the 'Moonlight Steam Room'. One recent visitor said: "A beautiful setting and fun-packed few days, we didn't want to leave! "The lodge was clean and comfortable, staff super-friendly, and choice of things to do varied, but the swimming pool was the best!" Center Parcs also recently revealed the plans for its first Scotland site. 5 5 Proposals include waterside lodges, apartments, lochs, Aqua Sana Forest Spa, Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Sports Plaza, and a Nature and Heritage Centre. In total, the park is expected to feature around 700 lodges. The Scottish village will also include a number of indoor and outdoor activities, retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and signature swimming and spa attractions. Plus, the affordable UK holiday park mums say is like Center Parcs without the price tag. 5
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Safari park's new hippos 'are a dream come true'
A safari park has welcomed two hippos into their new home as part of its "commitment to conservation". Mother and son duo, Lola and Hodor, settled into their new enclosure at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, alongside Matylda and Manon from the Czech Republic. The four hippos are housed in a state-of-the-art complex designed to have capacity for any resulting offspring, creating a self-sustaining family group known as a bloat. Staff say their arrival is "vital" for the conservation breeding programme for this vulnerable species, although it is too early to say when breeding may occur. Their arrival follows the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived in Half Mile Pond for more than 40 years. Lola, 21, and her son Hodor, eight, were born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable. Their keepers revealed their favourite food was cabbage, which Longleat staff say will "be a staple of their Wiltshire diet". Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said it was "amazing" to see the semi-aquatic animals back at Longleat. "We will be spending the coming days letting them settle in, giving them time to get to know the keepers and slowly introducing them to each other," he said. "We hope in time to have offspring which will be a huge boost to the international breeding programme, and vital for the protection of the species which aims to stop the move towards endangerment." Guests will be able to spot the hippos in their enclosure from the Jungle Cruise, which offers trips across Half Mile Pond. Simon Askew, chief operating officer, said: "We have said from the outset that our plans for introducing hippos has been part of our commitment to conservation, sustainability and education. "Today has seen a dream become reality. "It is an exciting time for Longleat and for our guests, who may start to spot the hippos in their paddock over the coming days." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Hippos arrive at safari park after trip across Europe Safari park's announces death of 'beloved' hippo Longleat Safari Park
BBC News
29-06-2025
- BBC News
New hippos 'vital' to Longleat Safari Park's conservation plan
A safari park has welcomed two hippos into their new home as part of its "commitment to conservation". Mother and son duo, Lola and Hodor, settled into their new enclosure at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, alongside Matylda and Manon from the Czech four hippos are housed in a state-of-the-art complex designed to have capacity for any resulting offspring, creating a self-sustaining family group known as a say their arrival is "vital" for the conservation breeding programme for this vulnerable species, although it is too early to say when breeding may occur. Their arrival follows the deaths of Sonia and Spot, who had lived in Half Mile Pond for more than 40 21, and her son Hodor, eight, were born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable. Their keepers revealed their favourite food was cabbage, which Longleat staff say will "be a staple of their Wiltshire diet". Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said it was "amazing" to see the semi-aquatic animals back at Longleat."We will be spending the coming days letting them settle in, giving them time to get to know the keepers and slowly introducing them to each other," he said."We hope in time to have offspring which will be a huge boost to the international breeding programme, and vital for the protection of the species which aims to stop the move towards endangerment." 'Dream come true' Guests will be able to spot the hippos in their enclosure from the Jungle Cruise, which offers trips across Half Mile Askew, chief operating officer, said: "We have said from the outset that our plans for introducing hippos has been part of our commitment to conservation, sustainability and education. "Today has seen a dream become reality."It is an exciting time for Longleat and for our guests, who may start to spot the hippos in their paddock over the coming days."
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wiltshire in Pictures: Special solstice sunrise
Thousands of people have journeyed to Wiltshire this week to witness the iconic moment of the sun rising above Stonehenge. The midsummer celebrations were marked at dozens of places across the county, including our world-famous stone circle. People have also been taking advantage of the sunshine to get out and about, capturing some of the best sights across the has also been lots of excitement at Longleat Safari Park with some new arrivals. Here is our weekly round-up showing life across the county this week. A midsummer night's dream: Thousands of people stayed up to watch the sunrise during this year's solstice. With the main event happening at Stonehenge, crowds flocked to witness the first rays of sunlight piercing through the ancient stone archways. Brightening up: Local art students spent their work experience painting a large mural on a subway in West Swindon. As part of an initiative rolled out by Marlborough Parish Council, five pupils from St John's School, painted the 26-metre (85ft) wall under Mead Way. New chick on the block: Keepers at Longleat Safari Park are hand rearing an endangered secretary bird chick. Born five weeks ago to seven-year-old Janine and dad Kevin, aged nine, the gender of the chick is not yet known. It was successfully reared in 2024 and is now living in a zoo in Singapore. Say hello: There was also excitement at the safari park as sisters, Matylda and Manon, were the first hippopotamuses to be welcomed at Longleat in more than 40 years after their journey from the Czech Republic. Fine needlework: Volunteers at Salisbury Cathedral have made the first stitch on their part of a major project which is in collaboration with 12 other cathedrals across the country. The Saintly Stitchers will help create a textile piece called the Circle of Life, which has been designed by iconographer Aiden Hart. The project should be completed by March 2026. Time for a cuddle: These ducks were spotted having a snuggle in Malmesbury.
