The Wildlife Park at Cricket St Thomas
(44) 14 – 603 0111
Chard
Somerset
TA20 4DB
United Kingdom
The Cricket St Thomas manor house ( a hotel since 1999) was built in 1820 by Sir John Soane. The grounds of the house were originally designed by legendary Landscape Architect Capability Brown. Now these rolling gardens are home to a lovely 46-acre Wildlife Park.
During the 1980′s the facade of the house served as set in the popular sitcom “To The Manor Morn“.
A lovely little find in the countryside, the Wildlife Park at Cricket St Thomas is home to many stunning animals set in the English green. It has the feel of a private bestiary – which in a way it is. It’s small scale lends an intimacy with the animals that is often missed at larger zoos. For instance on a small path while walking very slowly, we came upon a family of marmosets. These funny little primates were free roaming and immensely curious. With patience, I was able to coax one onto my hand, arm and then shoulder! – though it all went askew when one of the many children in the park noticed 
Quite an enjoyable location for any animal or nature lover.
Swans
(above photo) American flamingo by Antony Scott
Here one finds many different species, including:
Red-fronted lemur
White-fronted lemur
Black & white ruffed lemur
Red-bellied lemur
Colombian spider monkey
Amur leopard
Sulawesi crested macaque
Bush dog
Scimitar-horned oryx
Waldrapp ibis
Southern ground hornbill
Moluccan cockatoo
Lesser vasa parrot
(above right photo) Swan
(above left photo)
(above left photo) Ostrich by Andy & Becky
(above right photo)Ring-Tailed Lemur by Ashley
(above left photo) Yellow Mongoose
(above right photo) Cotton-Top Tamarin
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