PARROT PAMPERIING Weekend 27th & 28th July at Paradise Park in Hayle. Cornwall

Come and join in and help the keepers make toys for the parrots!

There will be some extra fun for all the family with a Parrot Pampering weekend on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July to kick off the school holidays.

Curator David Woolcock explains “Staff will be running a workshop on both days from 1 to 2pm where you can meet the Park’s parrot keepers and make toys for parrots from items such as fruit, seeds, honey, fresh branches, hemp rope, pine cones and even paper bags and old eggs boxes.  These help the birds to feed and play, keeping their beaks busy while they forage for favourite treats and encouraging them to try unusual foods.

While you meet parrots up close at the Rainbow Lorikeet feeding time, right after the workshop at 2pm, the keepers will put the toys out into aviaries so you can see how they like your creations.

Then you can take a seat to see the Free Flying Bird Show (featuring many parrots) which is at 3.30pm every day – not to be missed!  There is also a flying display with birds of prey, the ‘Eagles of Paradise’ at 12 noon each day.”

A special fun Parrot Trail will also be running, with clues and answers around the Park. All completed trail sheets can be handed in to the gift shop for a chance to win a colourful and noisy parrot puppet!

What's on at Paradise Park this Summer Holidays - Parrots, Pandas and Poop

From Parrot Pampering on July 27th and 28th

Pandas in Paradise on the 3rd and 4th August

and The Poop Trail from 24th Jul to 3rd September

WHITSUN RAINBOW WEEK at Paradise Park, Cornwall 25th May to 2nd June

DINO the Serianma

Green-naped Lorikeet

Paradise Park is highlighting colour during its ‘Rainbow Week’ this Whitsun. The colourful parrot family will be to the fore of course, as the Park is home to the World Parrot Trust charity. The way birds and people use colour will feature in the Rainbow Quiz which will run between Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June.
As you explore the Park to see the birds and animals, look out for the quiz sheet clues. Once complete, you can check your answers and claim your sweet treat in the JungleBarn or gift shop.

And check out the ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ experience which happens at 2pm everyday (weather permitting) in the walk-through ‘Australian Aviaries’ in the walled garden. You can buy some food for the little parrots who love nothing more than sitting on your arm, or your head, and squabbling with each other while drinking their nectar – a sweet drink of honey, baby food, chilli powder and vitamins. It’s a fascinating and fun close encounter for young and old alike.

Red Billed Toucan

You can also help support this species by buying a rainbow ribbon (minimum donation 50p) to tie onto the rainbow tree in our JungleBarn reception, and help raise funds for the important work of the Lory Conservation Network (www.savelories.org ). The network links zoos, bird parks, and lory exhibits around the world with conservation projects designed to protect lories and lorikeets. In many areas wild lory populations are under threat and need help to survive.

Face painting and special rainbow cakes will also be available during Rainbow Week.

Over 650 birds and animals to see.

For all the latest information on events and news please visit www.paradisepark.org.uk

Celebrate Archie the Bald Eagle's 25th Birthday at Paradise Park

Curator David Woolcock explains “To celebrate his birthday this weekend we will have a big card for everyone to sign, a prize draw each day (4th, 5th and 6th May) to win a bald eagle soft toy and will be highlighting Archie during the flying displays. And don’t forget your camera as one of the presenters will have Archie on their arm so you can take close up photographs after the display which starts at 12 noon.”

Archie’s story
In April 1988, in the wilds of a Canadian forest, a Bald Eagle egg hatched.  Within days a forest fire raged through the area and firefighters struggled tirelessly to control the blaze.  In a last ditch attempt to stop the fires rampage a swathe of trees were felled to create a fire break. That was when the world literally came crashing down around the young bald eagle.  Once on the ground the young eagle chick was rescued by forest rangers and taken to the Thompson Zoo in Manitoba, where he was hand raised by the keepers.  At eight months of age, and now imprinted upon humans, the decision was taken by the Canadian authorities that this bird could not safely be released back to the wild. That was when he came to Paradise Park. Seeing Archie, as he became known, has become one of the highlights of a visit to Paradise Park ever since, flying above the crowds at the daily ‘Eagles of Paradise’ display.

 A Bald Eagle’s diet consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder. They prefer habitats near seacoasts, rivers, large lakes, oceans, and other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish and hunt by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. They reach 35–43 mph when gliding and flapping and when they dive it’s between 75–99 mph, although they seldom dive vertically. Considered a sacred bird in some North American cultures, the Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America.

For more information on the daily events and flying times please visit www.paradisepark.org.uk

This Easter marks Paradise Park’s 40th Birthday!

To start the 40th Birthday celebrations for Paradise Park, during Easter weekend 29th March to 1st  April, staff will be dressed up in a 1970’s theme, plus there will be some giveaways, specially reduced prices for a variety of items available at the park, and of course the Egg quiz trail with mini chocolate egg prizes. The Egg Hunt will run right through the 2 week holiday.  Keep a check on the Park’s website for all the latest.

It’s a great time to make a visit and catch up with all your favourite birds and animals, and for special events like a penguin photocall where you can meet the friendly penguins up close, and the ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ where you can buy small pots of nectar to feed the colourful little Lorikeet parrots.

The amazing ‘Eagles of Paradise’ display gives you the opportunity to see birds like Archie the Bald Eagle. In the afternoon watch the  ‘Free Flying Bird Show’, see and learn as macaws and conures fly over your head and in-between the crowds.

The brilliant ‘JungleBarn’ indoor play centre has challenging soft play, giant slides plus a special toddlers’ area and cafe. Also enjoy our outdoor ‘Paradise Island’ adventure play area.

Great value Return Tickets, just £3.95 for another visit in 2013. Phone our 24 hour Infoline 01736 751020 or visit our website www.paradisepark.org.uk   

Pirates of the Cornish Riviera... Okay so maybe it’s not quite the Caribbean...

 AHOY me hearties!

Now you listen to me young pirates. There be a special event arriving on these shores very soon.

And it’s all happening in Paradise!

Methinks you should get yourselves down to Paradise Park this half term for Pirate Week 16th to 24th Feb. Show what you're made of with swashbuckling fun as you chart the course on the trail of gold coins where X marks the spot, and don’t miss the chance to meet Long John Tredinnick and his loyal band of parrots.

For the more creative amongst you, we have a Captain Flint parrot toy making workshop every day between 2pm and 3pm.

And if the weather is foul... you can walk the rope bridge, climb the nets, slide down the... slides, and the little ones can try their hand at the ball fountain. So make sure you don’t miss the adventures of the indoor Pirate JungleBarn.

Plus keep a sharp eye out for the otter feeding, carrot time in the Fun Farm, and you could be chosen to help feed the penguins – more importantly for young pirates – a parrot may well sit on your shoulder at the daily parrot feeding time with the colourful Rainbow Lorikeets.

Don’t forget your camera to capture the moment, or for the penguin photocall when you can meet a friendly hand-reared penguins, Cracker and Houdini, who like nothing better than a dip in the ocean.

The Best Christmas Gig Ever at the Bird in Hand

JR Francis at the Bird In Hand

This was the second year that ‘The Best Gig Ever’ had been held at the Bird In Hand Pub in Hayle. Designed to give everyone something to look forward to after the Christmas festivities.

Landlord Nick Reynolds said “We had a fantastic night on the 29th December, and with everyone’s overwhelming support meant we managed once again to raise £1,000 for good causes. The local Air Ambulance charity was chosen as it came to the rescue of young lad, Caleb, who had been involved in an accident at Loggans in Hayle. The helicopter transferred him to Bristol but he tragically didn’t survive his injuries and passed away. His family had chosen to have a celebration at the ‘Bird In Hand’ for Caleb’s short life, so we felt it only right to ask his parents what charity they would like the money from this year’s Best Christmas Gig Ever event to go to, and that was Cornwall Air Ambulance.”

Susie Smith, Fundraising Manager at Cornwall Air Ambulance said ‘We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Caleb’s parents for deciding to support Cornwall Air Ambulance - this kind gesture of support at the time of such a sad loss is very much appreciated and our thoughts are with them and the rest of their family. We currently airlift around 60 children a year and the donation from the evening will go towards funding future emergency flights’.

Nick continues “I feel it is important to highlight that Caleb is not the first child to have been killed on this stretch of road. The Highways Agency and Council must look at this very soon as we agree with Caleb’s family that a new lighted crossing is urgently needed.”

A huge thank for the evening goes to the seven amazing local bands that performed for free: The Dolphins Fly, Sandy Acre 7, Mosquitoes, Money Shot, The Flamin’ Infidels, Goon farm and Grim & Ugly – great music for a good cause. We must also thank Angus Smith who normally arranges our Open Mic nights every second Friday of the month, as he ensured everything ran smoothly and that there were no gaps during proceedings.”

The Best Gig Ever - Bird In Hand Pub in Hayle

“Finally many thanks are due to Jody Brown of Opus Pocus PA, Roger Butler and Steve Brown for the lighting rig, Mark Ryan for fiddling with the buttons on the PA, and Alden Evans and Billy Bowen for helping set everything up and making the whole night such a success.”

http://www.birdinhandhayle.co.uk/