Overview

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, www.Birmingham.gov.uk/bhamconservationpark/ We really enjoyed this very nice, compact, small zoo, with lots of animals to be seen. The park opens at 10.00 everyday, and we suggest you get here at this time if possible, as then all the animals are out and about and you will get some great views. Later on in the day the animals seem to prefer to hide and sleep, and it can be difficult to see them. There has been a zoo here from 1st May 1964, the site being part of a 16th century mill, known as Pebble Mill. You may know this name because of the TV station that was here in the area many years ago, Pebble Mill studios. The Zoo housed mainly young animals then, and included some of Dudley Zoos animals of monkeys. It closed in 1973, but opened again a year later in 1974 to be known as the Birmingham Nature centre. However, in 2014 it became the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, owned by the Birmingham City council. It’s main activity is now helping many breeding programmes for endangered animals, holding many talks and campaigns to highlight the problems the world is facing as regards many creatures. ===================================================================== OUR PHOTOS There is a large car park with many disabled bays (photo 1) and it is only a short walk to the main entrance (photo 2) with the building having a decent ramp to help you get inside (photo 3) and it is very level inside (photo 4) as you ride around the gift shop to reach the pay counter (photo 5) In 2023 they had concession prices for senior citizens and disabled, £5.80 each, with no help financially for your carer, but we felt this was good value as there are plenty of animals to be seen. Do pick up a free map of the park, in a rack just passed the pay counter and at head height before you go outside. It is just a short ride for you (photo 6) before you see the first animals, The Rhea, an Ostrich type of bird (photo 7) and we counted five to be seen. Just past the birds you will reach the cafe and the toilets (photo 8) with a good ramp to get you inside the small cubicle (photo 9). Just beyond this is the cafe (photo 10) which we suggest you use Later on, as by following the map in your hand and seeing many animals, you may be glad of a sit down with your carer and a drink. however, may we say this, the food and drink was very poor here (photo 11) we wish we hadn’t bothered, but at least it was a break and a chance to rest (photo 12). This soon gets busy as the morning progresses mind you, and you may prefer to sit outside at the rear (photo 13) in a quiet and well maintained garden setting. It was nice to see so many volunteers helping with the cleaning of the glass at various sections of the park (photo 14) well done to them all. The grounds are divided into two sections by the river Rea (photo 15) Birminghams only river, and you can cross this via a couple of bridges. All through the park you will find notice boards that offer insight to the problems faced by animals throughout the world, worth reading as you pass them by (photo 16), but let’s just show you a few of the animals we saw today. The Lynx was being feed at 12.30 (photo 17) having already seen the otters fed at 11.00 (photo 18) and you will be able to go indoors to see many other animals (photo 19) as you slowly wander around, but proberbly everyone’s favourite were the two red pandas (photo 20), worth going to see them twice, as on our first view they were resting and facing away from us, but caught them nicely when seeing them the second time today. Reading other reviews however was eye opening, especially local people who have been visiting for years, it was the first visit by my husband though for over 60 years, and they all said the same, the park has become rather run down, and rather unkept, in need of a pick me up again, but for us and first time visitors it really was a treat, and we would recommend you taking a visit when you can.

Transport & Parking

Although only two miles out of the city centre of Birmingham, it was not too bad a ride to reach the park, depending on how you need to arrive here. There is a large car park, with a number of disabled bays, and suggest you park under the trees for shade. Private coaches can park quite close as well in main car park, to drop passengers off. Bus stops are very near to the entrance.

Access

Throughout the park, we found it easy to get around, although there are slopes in some parts. We did not encounter any steps, paths were level enough without potholes, and we could see every little creature on show.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is shared with ladies toilet, small, basic, reasonably tidy, but did not appeal to us to use it, waited until later on in the day elsewhere.

Staff

All very quite, busy looking after animals, and seemed shy.

Photos