Wessex Wishes Ltd at Cotswold Wildlife Park

Judy and I left at 7.00 am this morning to join Andy Blake our wonderful Coach Driver from Laguna Coaches to pick up 33 Young Carers and 6 Staff from Bethany School in Boscombe to travel to Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Thanks to Andy’s diversions we arrived bang on 10.00 am in blue sky and about 27 degrees but with a lovely breeze.

Please forgive the Photographs as I’m no Hattie Miles. Unfortunately, Hattie has a poorly hubby and couldn’t join us. We all wish Jeremy all the very best for a full recovery.

Many of the smaller animals were staying in the shade and therefore, it was impossible to photograph them or the sun shone on the glass where they were sleeping.

We started off walking around the park to see

Assorted birds from different countries including Ostriches as we entered the park, Binturong, Red Junglefowl, beautiful Barn Owls and Snowy Owls. Then onto see the Lions, Zebras, Rhino’s and Giraffes.

At 12.00 noon we all went to the Orangery on the side of their Restaurant where we all had a wonderful choice of hot food which everybody thoroughly enjoyed with empty plates throughout.

After lunch everybody enjoyed a Mr Whippy Ice-cream with chocolate flakes before we boarded the train to travel around the whole of the park seeing an abundance of beautiful flowers and plants to view as well as more animals such as different breeds of goats, penguins, storks and three very large tortoises, one of whom was cooling off in a pool of water.

Of course by this time Judy and Andy had once again as they normally do on these trips, disappeared for half an hour - Judy even turned her back on me hoping I wouldn’t have seen them, however I had photographic proof

The children then had half an hour in the children’s play area before we left to begin our journey to MacDonalds in Ferndown to each receive their favourite meal prior to returning to school at 7.30 pm.

All the children and teachers agreed they’d had a really great day.

We all thanked Matt and Tracey from the restaurant for the great food and service, the girls in the ice-cream kiosk for preparing 41 ice-creams and staff at the train station.

Thank you Kieron and the staff at MacDonalds in Ferndown and of course Andy from Laguna who always ensures he gets us to and from our destinations safely. Andy also helps Judy and I if and when we need it at the venues he takes us to.

Many thanks to Chloe, Lucy and the Staff from Bethany School and the children for being so well behaved all day even though it was very warm.

Thank you to everybody who supports Wessex Wishes Limited to enable us to support 3000 children attending nine local schools.

Much love and hugs

Frances, Barry and the Wessex Wishes Committee