Kilverstone with its South American collection. I would use some of its land to incorporate the animals of RSCC.
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As I have mentioned on other threads, the two closed UK zoos that I miss the most are Kilverstone (with its great collection of neotropical species) and the Rare Species Conservation Centre (with its fine collection of rarely seen species).
The zoo that I would most like to reopen would have to be one of these two although I would find it extremely difficult to choose between the two of them.
EDIT: "Dassie rat" our two posts crossed; I like your idea of using the more spacious Kilverstone to incorporate the RSCC's collection.
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RSCC - never got here, having had a visit planned for shortly after both of the times it closed given there are a few species I am now-unlikely to ever see (Spectral Tarsier, Spotted Cuscus and Banded Civet chief among them) which were held at the collection, one of which I missed elsewhere by weeks, this is a little annoying too.
Blackbrook Zoo - the only one of the three which I ever visited, a year or so before it finally closed, and a collection which even at such a late stage in its lifespan held well over a dozen taxa I have never seen again in the intervening years. The most speciose bird collection in the UK within the last few decades by a long shot, too.
Overall, I think Kilverstone wins by a hair.
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I think RSCC is the only place that's closed (that I have been to) since I started revisiting zoos, so it has to be that.
I'd agree with those who said RSCC and Blackbrook, both of which I visited and was awestruck by the collections. I had never visited Kilverstone; dare I ask, what amazing neotropical specialties did I miss???
I have to agree with the suggestions of Kilverstone and RSCC, which are definitely the 2 best closed collections I have visited!
I had never visited Kilverstone; dare I ask, what amazing neotropical specialties did I miss???
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Looking through the list I made some time ago of the 47 public collections I personally visited, which are no longer open, many are not really missed. Some ran for a long time and made considerable contributions, in they hey-days. Using these criteria (even if some would not pass the grade, when subjected to modern criticisms of presentation) I would personally consider Norfolk, Kelling, Stagsden, Flamingo Gardens, Kilverstone and the first Birdland, in the top drawer. Choosing between them would depend on the objective.
Many of the others were very nice, and many were not. All left their legacies and influenced the lives of those involved and those who visited.
The impact Zoos have (even those easily criticized) on generations of visitors, often changing lives forever, must never be underestimated.
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I would've loved to have visited the RSCC - in fact I only found out about it a couple of years before it closed. Just by looking online, it had such a diverse and unique selection of species with a really nice layout. Terrible shame it closed. So much for my chance of seeing Tarsiers outside Asia!
Very true, although as noted previously I only visited one of the three I cited - and that only the once - so it would be something of a misnomer to say I miss the other two.
I would personally consider Norfolk, Kelling, Stagsden, Flamingo Gardens, Kilverstone and the first Birdland, in the top drawer. Choosing between them would depend on the objective.
I also considered citing these two - particularly Norfolk, given my fondness for collections of native European species.
Blackbrook and RSCC are both collections that were open when I was planning my first UK trip but closed before I made it. Of the two I'd say RSCC is the one I'd love to see reopen the most.
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Having heard so much about it, and seen so many old pictures - Southport Zoo would be the top of my list!
Does anyone know much about Padstow? I went as child and remember being very impressed by the place but looking at the guide book I bought, there doesn't seem to have been much there?
I drove to it twice, so that would date it to the late 70s, maybe early 80s. The second time combining it with visiting Hayle, so the people at Hayle might be a source of more info. Padstow was nice. I have nothing other than memories, but recall it being in the town centre, in a small walled garden - and we approached it on foot, so I dont think it was large enough to have its own car park. Dont remember anything about its collection, sorry. Bird Gardens were the Sea-Life Centres of the 1970s onwards, with their collections fueled by the then massive trade in imported birds. Many were short-lived, but I think Padstow operated for quite while, maybe 20 years or so.
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Thanks, I remember it also had a butterfly house. Didn't realise it lasted so long.
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