Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
The monkeys, clean |
| Disadvantages: |
not much to see, not good value as you couldn't spend the whole day there . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
no |
As it was Bank Holiday and the kids have been off school and play group for about 5 weeks, totally bored and totally driving me slowly but surely insane by inventing new and exiting ways to be naughty, we decided it was high time for a family day out. We\'d already done our usual haunts this summer, Blackpool, Southport, Heaton park, etc this summer and we wanted to go somewhere we had never been before. Then a work mate of my
other half\'s suggested Monkey Forest.
What Is It
As it\'s title suggests it\'s basically a forest (Trentham Forest) with Monkey\'s in. What\'s unique about Monkey Forest it that the monkey\'s are free roaming and you can get up close to them. When I say free roaming it\'s actually a massive enclosure that the public can go into but it\'s so vast you feel just like you are wondering about freely. The Monkey\'s in question are Barbury Macaques and they have 60 acres of woodland and grassy clearings to live pretty much as if they are free. The path which the public have access to is 3/4 of mile long.
Monkey Forest is committed to the conservation and protection of the Barbury Macaques. It has been featured on a TV programme called Monkey Business which is shown on BBC Midlands Today.
Barbary Macaques
Barbary Macaques are highly endangered and classified as vulnerable. Their natural habitat is the mountains of Morocco and Algeria, and are also the breed that live on The Rock Of Gibraltar. They live in groups and each group has a social heirarchy. Babies are usually born between May and July and it\'s the Male Barbary Macaques that often care for the babies. At the moment Monkey Forest has 2 babies.
Where Is It
Monkey Forest is in Trentham, Staffordshir (pretty near to Stoke). We traveled from Bury, Greater Manchester by car and it took about 45 mins to get there but we did go early (9am set off). Estimated traveling times by car are:
Liverpool 60mins
Manchester 55mins
Birmingham 45mins
Leicester 60 mins
Access From the M6 : exit 15, take A34 direction Stone, straight over the round about to \'Trentham gardens\' and we are the next round about on the right.
From the M1 : exit 23a or 24a and turn onto the A50 to Stoke on Trent and follows signs for Trentham
The entrance is located at the Trentham Estate south Entrance: see roundabout on the A34.
The nearest train station is Stoke On Trent.
Opening Times
Between April and October the park opens at 10am and closes it 6pm with the last entry at 5pm.
The park is closed all of January and December.
During February, March and November the park is open but the times very depending on the season and visitors are asked to consult the website before traveling.
Prices For 2007
Adults £5.50
Children £4.00
Under 3\'s Free
There are group discounts for schools and groups over 20 but they need to be booked through the park directly. They also offer birthday parties.
Other Services In The Park
Quiz for kids to get to know more about the monkeys.
Jungle Shop selling gifts, soft toys and souveniers.
Educational Signs to give you more information about the Monkeys so you can learn as you stroll
self service cafe, serving crisps, drinks, cakes hot and cold snacks and desserts.
Picnic tables some of which are covered.
Huge free car park
My Experience
We got there about 10 minutes before the park actually opened so it was extremely easy to get a space. I though it was pretty cheap for a day out, we paid £15 for myself, OH, and the 3 kids (as my 2 boys are both under 3. When you pay you can pick up a free guide to the park (which is just a thin leaflet) and a quiz sheet (none of my kids were interested in this though). When we entered I was struck by how clean the place was of, I realise that it was early but even the buildings looked in immaculate condition. As we walked in to the left was the picnic area, to the right were the toilets, cafe, souvenir shop, classroom (or lecture room), a covered picnic area and an outdoor dining area. Straight ahead was the entrance to the enclosure. Our first stop was to the toilets with the kids, I can\'t speak for the mens but the ladies were surprisingly well lit, light, airy, clean and pong free.
The next stop was the actual enclosure. As we approached the enclosure we were told to leave any plastic bags containing food and drinks with the park warden on the desk as no food and drink is permitted inside, we didn\'t have any but people who did were given a receipt so they could get their stuff easily when they returned. We walked down the hill and came to the first clearing where there we quite a few monkey\'s, all were in the middle of the grass and non cam to the outskirts but this wasn\'t the case everywhere. The monkeys all seemed to be near grassy or on grassy clearings and none in the actual forest which we had to walk through. We got really close to them, my 2 year old boy ran right up to one (which was as big as he) which was just sitting on a low wooden fence and made monkey noises at him, the monkey wasn\'t impressed at all and gave him a growl. I had to be careful pushing the pram cos the monkey often just charged out in front of us. We were in there for about 45 mins cos it was all a bit samey and 3/4 mile isn\'t that long of a walk really. we then went to the cafe but as it was only 11.20am there were no hot snacks on and not many cold snack had been put out . we just settled for a packet of crisps and a drink each which came to £6.20. Then as there was nothing left to see we went home, on leaving the queue to get in was massive and the car park was so full people had to wait for others to leave before they could enter the car park.
Overall
At first I thought this was going to be a good value day out but after spending hour there isn\'t much to see or do. The guides who are stationed along the path are really knowledgeable and are happy to answer questions. The actual enclosure is great but after you seen a few you\'ve seen them all really. Some of the path is rough and hilly so I wouldn\'t recommend to people who have trouble walking or who are in wheelchairs. I would only recommend this to people who live nearby as it\'s too far to
travel just to spend and hour or so there. I\'d also say go early as people tend to crowd round the areas where the monkeys congregate and you have to wait to get near them.
Warnings
No Pets or guide dogs allowed
Not all terrain is suitable for wheelchairs
no food or drink allowed in enclosure
No running or shouting allowed in enclosure
Children must be kept under strict supervision.
Address
Trentham Monkey Forest
Trentham Estate
Stone Road
Trentham
ST4 8AX
www.monkey-forest.com
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