Keeper-for-a-Day – Sue Betts

 

 

 

Sue Betts joined us as a ‘Keeper for a Day’ today.  This was a birthday present from her partner, Ian.

Sue lives in Binstead on the Isle of Wight and has been a regular visitor to the Park over many years. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a wonderful sunny spring day to be ‘behind the scenes’ and working outdoors with all our special animals!

Sue was a pleasure to have with us, she was full of smiles and enthusiasm!

At the end of her day today I asked Sue about her day: “I enjoyed every bit of it; it was lovely”  She then went on to say “Today was the day I overcame my fear of snakes and cockroaches!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I asked Sue what her favourite moments were – she said she enjoyed it all, but was particularly keen to have a photo with the Penguins.  So here we are Sue – this captures one of your magic moments with Dippy!

 

We’re looking forward to seeing Sue and her family when they some to visit us all again later in the season.

Quotes from our Visitors Book

Our first week of opening has gone very smoothly and what fantastic weather we are having on the Isle Of Wight! Here are some first 2011 quotes from our visitors book.......

" Absolutely fantastic. Beautifully landscaped and kept" J. Murray - Surrey

" Lot's of fun, enjoyed feeding the penguins - thank you!" Bartolds Family, Washington D.C. U.S.A.

" Fantastic my little girl really enjoyed feeding the penguins!!" Vince Taylor & Ella, Christchurch, Dorset

" My husbands crab sandwich was worth every penny - delish!" T. Price

" We come a few times a year and I love it!" Robertson/Mayne Family, Cowes

Special Spring Hatching!

 

 

 

 

The Animal Care Team are thrilled at the new hatchling that appeared from behind the pampas grass with the parent birds this morning – a Hawaiian Gosling (otherwise known as a Nene Gosling). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawaiian Geese (Branta sandvicensis) are among the most isolated, sedentary and threatened of all waterfowl (it is the sixth most endangered waterfowl species in the world). They previously bred on all or most of the Hawaiian Islands, but are now restricted to Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. Females typically nest on the ground and lay an average of 3 eggs. Sometimes called “Nene” these are unique among geese in that they are not normally observed near water. The reduced webbing on their feet is an adaptation to their rugged upland habitat.

Sally celebrates her 50th Birthday!

 

 

 

I know, you don’t have to say it …. Sally doesn’t look a day over 60 …. only kidding!  Our lovely Gift Shop Manager, Sally Sheridan (who often reminds me of Goldie Hawn) celebrated her half century (and not out) this week. 

To commemorate her special day Sally was presented with a cake bearing the image of Elvis (her favourite feathered friend here at the Park). 

Sally is a very popular member of the Seaview Wildlife Team.  She lifts spirits and puts a smile on everyone’s faces – so this comes with big congratulations and a huge hug from all her friends (human and animal) here at the Park!

“CALL OF THE WILD” - Isle of Wight Radio calls in for pre-Easter promotion!

  

 

We were pleased to welcome Glyn Taylor from Isle of Wight Radio back to Seaview Wildlife this morning.  He was here to do some ‘sound bytes’ for a new promotion that will be running on IOW Radio the week commencing Monday 18th April (in the lead-up to Easter). 

The image on the left shows Glynn ‘interviewing’ a Wallaby – but beware – this is not a clue for the upcoming competition!

 

  

 

 

After the recordings were complete, Glyn, Lorraine and I sat outside on one of our cafe’s outdoor patios to complete our discussions – and what a beautiful day for an al fresco meeting!  Spring at its very best!

Thank you Glyn for sharing some special time with us …….

For our Blog readers – don’t forget to tune in to IOW Radio at 8.10am Mon–Thurs (18 – 28 April) and an hour later on Good Friday!  Each day there’s a family ticket into the Park being given away to the first person who correctly identifies the animal or bird sound clip – so listen in and give it a go!

Gold-award-winning SCARECROWS coming to Seaview Wildlife for EASTER!

In 2010, two Islanders, Doug Barber and his neighbour Felicity (Fliss) Farnham, organised a Scarecrow Festival for the Isle of Wight parish of Gatcombe and Chillerton. Little did they know that they would end up winning a coveted GOLD award in the “Access for All” category of Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Awards for Excellence!

 

 

 

 

 

An incredible 97 Scarecrows participated in this event! A select few are coming to visit Seaview Wildlife Encounter – to help promote some important festivities – family fun days over the Easter Weekend (22-25 April), the launch of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival (7^th May) and the celebration of the Park’s 40th Anniversary (1971 – 2011).

 

 

 

 

 

It just goes to show how imaginative people can be – these images show a sample of the creativity and sense of community that the villagers of Gatcombe and Chillerton have shown by embracing this event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2011 Scarecrow Festival is scheduled to take place from Saturday 28th May until Saturday 4th June at Gatcombe and Chillerton – in the interim come and join in the fun with some of these Scarecrow characters at Seaview Wildlife Encounter! (They’re due to arrive just before the Easter Weekend, to stay until after the start of the Walking Festival on 7^th May).

FANTASTIC OPENING DAY AT THE PARK!

According to those in the know, this year’s opening for the 2011 season has been the calmest, smoothest and most successful ever! Thank you to all the team for their hard work in bringing the Park back to life ready for our opening day on Saturday 2nd April.

After all the bustling preparations in the weeks leading up to this weekend it was definitely all worthwhile! The Park is looking lovely – the grounds are bursting into new growth and spring life - almost as though the plants knew it was time to show off their splendour for the first of our 2011 visitors. The free-roaming ducks and geese gathered round eagerly to greet the first visitors, anticipating grain being thrown in their direction – whoever said birds had ‘bird brains’?!

Some of our special happenings this weekend included:

• Right on cue ducklings hatched ready for the start of the Easter holidays!
• The Whittington family (who recently donated two adorable Miniature Pigs to the Park) came to visit their ‘boys’!
• Our cafe/catering division has been awarded a five star food hygiene rating for the second consecutive year (an exceptional achievement that many top restaurants and hotels have not come close to!)
• We’ve opened our upgraded and refurbished cafe and gift shop (it’s looking fab!)
• Our new Discovery Zone / Education Centre is in its final stages of metamorphosis having undergone an exciting overhaul this winter - with beautiful new display areas being completed for both the Leaf-Cutting Ants and the Harvest Mice.

So what are you waiting for? Come on down to the wildest place for a great day out …… this Easter, this summer, this year!