Firstly let me tell you a bit about Chester Zoo.

Chester Zoo is run by the North of England Zoological Society which was founded in 1934. The North of England Zoological Society is a registered charity that operates Chester Zoo and also receives Government funding. Chester Zoo is now one of the largest zoos in the UK and employs about 250 permanent staff with about another 150 seasonal workers. Today Chester is more than a Zoo as they are heavily into conservation rather the just having the animals for us to stare at.

Chester Zoo covers an area of about 100 acres and was founded in 1930 by George Mottershead. George kept the zoo going during the 2nd World War which was followed by a rapid expansion and the foundations of what Chester zoo is today where laid. Initially the Zoo was well know for the designs of their animal enclosures and breeding successes. George Mottershead died in 1978 but he had by this point achieved this dream of a zoo without bars, in other words animals where not just kept in cages but had a more natural space to live.

****What can Chester Zoo offer us today*******

Chester Zoo not only has over 500 different species of animals and many garden areas around the zoo. The gardens are extremely well maintained and there is always something to look at throughout the year and I understand that the gardens have won awards but still trying to find out exactly what awards they have won. There is access for wheelchairs and pushchairs and facilities for the disabled, parent and baby changing rooms and a play area for the younger children.

---Getting there---

By Road: Follow the brown Chester Zoo signs from M56, Junction 14 or Junction 12 on the M53. The Zoo is also clearly signed on the A41 Chester road.

By Rail & Bus
From Chester Main Line Station: Take taxi (app. 2 miles), or bus to Town Hall bus exchange. Mon - Sat, First Crosville number 1 half hourly to main entrance, or number 4, half hourly to pedestrian entrance. Bank Hols, 1 only. Suns and Bank Hols, Arriva 411, 412 to main entrance.

From Merseyrail Bache Station: First Crosville 1, (Mon - Sat and Bank Hols) from Mill Lane, or Arriva (Sun and Bank Hols only) 411, 412 from Liverpool Road. All Arriva Trains Merseyside manned stations sell combined rail/bus/zoo tickets.

----Touring the Zoo---

When you enter the zoo you can buy a guide which provides you with different ways of getting around the zoo, the last guide I purchased showed too different routes - the quick tour (still requires a good few hours) or the full tour - full day for this one, Or you can just follow the map in the guide and visit what you want to see. Feeding times are normally listed in here also. In additional to this there is a 'rain buster route' for the times when the weather is not as forecast.

----Monorail---

There is a monorail that takes you around the zoo with a commentary - there is an extra charge for this as it is not included in the entrance price, I have only used this in really bad weather and it does offer some really good views of some of the animals but I think it is overpriced for what you get. The good point is that it does have wheelchair access.

---Water bus----

The water bus is a short ride around a small area of the zoo but is best used in spring when there are lots of ducks and other waterfowl and the plants around the banks are in full bloom.

----For the Kids----

What is on offer - well there is face painting, have your face painted like one of the animals (tiger is very popular), colouring outdoor play area and during my last visit was a small farm area with goats, you can buy a bag of feed and get in with the goats, but watch out with small children. There where also rabbits and pigs, I am sure there was more but cannot remember.

Now the detailed bit

*****Plants*****

Zoos these days tend to look at their planting based around the original habits of the animals they have in their collection (ooh what a terrible word, make them sound like trophies) although some are obviously there for us to just enjoy as the pathways around Chester Zoo are also very well planted. Plants also serve a purpose in providing shade for the sun on those glorious English summer days and as windbreaks on the more windy days.. Naturally because of the English climate it is not always possible for the Zoo to grow plants that are native to the animals habitat but they do there best to use plants that are similar in appearance to the real thing. Lots of animals also rely on plants for their survival whether for food, shelter of just to hide in and the plants rely as much on the animals for dispersal of seeds for their continued survival. Chester Zoo have increased the number of rare plants that they grow in an effort to protect some of them from dying out , so they are not only active in animal conservation but also plants.

*****Animals*****

Chester Zoo currently care for over 7000 animals representing between 400 to 500 species and below are some of my favourites:-

---Orang-utan---

One of my favourite animals in the zoo for the entertainment value. Chester have been very successful at breeding Orang-utans and very often you will find that there is a youngster among the group. The majority of the Orang-utan house is indoor and is well kitted out with climbing frames with platforms, ropes and empty sacks. Orang-utans are fairly shy and like to hide underneath the sacks. There is also an outdoor area if they are in the mood to sit in the sun. The Orag utan is in for a treat this year, Chester are spending 3 million pounds on a new home from them, can't wait to see the end product which will be named 'The Realm of the Red Monkey'.

---Chimpanzee---

The chips have their own house and this has lots of items for them to climb, frames, platforms, ropes and provide the most excellent entertainment. The outdoor area for the chimps is large and well planted with a moat between the exterior wall and the grassed area that the chimps can use. Hours of entertainment can be had here as some of the antics the chimps get up to are hilarious and occasionally they have the odd scuffle amongst themselves. During one visit to the zoo there was a chimp that used to stand at the waters edge and goad the spectators into trying to throw him some food (the moat is too wide and there are notices up everywhere warning you not to feed them). This chimp would clap his hands together twice and then hold out one hand as if to say 'well come on then what have you got for me'. At the end of a day when the chimps are back in their house for the night, be prepared to see their revolting habits such as sniffing their own excrement and picking at their bottoms. Chimpanzees are actually on the endangered species list.

----Elephant---

Yet another endangered species the Asian Elephant. Can be very entertaining particularly if the dominant male is in musk and have been in most awkward situation when the children where young in trying to explain why one elephant was chasing another in an obvious state of excitement and let me tell you they are no tiddlers there. The elephant enclosure has undergone radical upgrade from a dirt yard outside the elephant house with a few tree trunks to a spectacular enclosure complete with waterfall and pond for the elephants to bathe in. there is now also a raised viewing platform for you to see better as you walk along the path next to the enclosure which is near to the waterfall.

----Sealions---

As Sea lions natural habitat is coastal waters there enclosure is out in the open and there is plenty of viewing area surrounding this, though be warned if you want to see them being fed get to the enclosure early as this is very popular and can at peak times be 3 deep and children will have difficulty seeing anything.

----Bats----

WARNING - if you do not like the dark or anything flying close to your head then do not enter. Why the warning, well the bats are housed in what is known as the bat cave. Upon entered the bat house there are displays with various creepy crawlies that live in the dark for you to see (there is also a way out from here so you do not have to go any further). From here you can progress through the entrance screens to the cave itself (2 curtains of plastic to stop the bats form escaping). Once you enter you are greeted by the wonderful site of the cave itself. The cave is beautifully planted and just off from the path some of the trees are used to hang food for the bats onto and you can get a really good close up view of the bats eating. Last time I visited there where two different types of bats which where the Seba's fruit bat and the Rodriguez Fruit bat. The Sebas fruit bats are quite small about the size of a mouse with wings, however, the Rodriguez fruit bat is much larger with a wing span of up to 75cm and look spectacular when flying around the cave. There is no separation between you and the bats and they are free to fly where they wish to. There is a large pond in the cave which has fish in it and you can make these out as you walk around. Across the pond there is a wire where fruit is hung up for the bats to feed from. About half way around the cave there is a small cave like tunnel and the bats often fly through here and you can feel them whisk by your head as they can get very close. Another warning - if you child has recently eaten fruit particularly banana then please wash there hands before they enter as the bats will be very interested in them.

-----Jaguar-----

The jaguar enclosure is amazing, to see the jaguars you can enter into the visitors part of the house and there are lots of interactive items including smell boxes, be warned one of them is jaguar urine and it takes a long time for the smell to leave your nostrils (speaking from experience here). The jaguars have both indoor and outdoor areas for them to wander in but are often found just lounging around.

****What else is there to see*****

---Monkey Island --- various species of monkeys, you walk through their 'house' and the indoor enclosure is divided from the public with floor to ceiling glass panels which provides a brilliant view for all angles. Inside there are some interactive items for the children and some log seats for you to sit on and watch the monkey antics. Outside there is a grass and planted area with ropes etc for the monkeys to play on, and they are more likely to be found here in nice weather.

-----Tropical House---- Here amongst the tropical birds you will find the A list endangered Komodo Dragon which arrived at Chester a few years ago. This house as you would expect is very hot but it is not huge and good place to see and a bad weather day.

---The Aquarium --- Exactly what you expect lots of fish tanks with a great variety of species.

----The Tropical House---- As well as a vary array of tropical plants there are snakes, lizards and even a couple of alligators to be found here, not to worry they are not free roaming like the bats . There are more birds to be found on the upper level in this house.

Also, although there are too many to mention are, Giraffes, Buffalo, Lemurs (very entertaining), Parrots, Rhino, Camels, Various deer, they also have reindeer and I used to enjoy taking the children this time of year when they where small as they where convinced that this is where Santa's reindeer lived, and much much more.

In addition to all of the above you can sponsor an animal and full details can be found along with all the current admission prices, annual membership prices (well worth it if you plan 3 or more visits per year) can be found on their web site www.chester zoo.org

There are places to eat at Chester Zoo but we always take a picnic in summer and in winter a couple of flasks of soup as there are plenty place where you can stop to eat, you don't need to cart everything around with you as you can pop in and out by getting your hand stamped when you leave so you can collect your lunch when needed.

On the whole an excellent day out can be had and would say that the maximum number if visits I have made in any one year is over 20 as the zoo is open all year round and if you live relatively locally best visited in off season when there are less visitors.