Capel Manor opened the 'childrens' zoo in Crystal Palace Park a week ago. It wasn't advertised to keep crowds low, allowing the animals to get used to people. But walking past it this morning its obvious its opening is being spotted by a few curious people and when people are inside everyone can spot the zoo is open. So I'd thought I its now safe to post the information here.

It's brilliant to see the zoo open again, and this time well run and for free. Its already proving a hit with families who have brought their kids to see the dinosaurs.
There are a couple of problems with the all night lighting and the use of the wood west of the zoo for storing waste, but I'm sure these will be sorted out soon.

Opening Times (These appear to be for the winter and the zoo may open half an hour longer in the summer)
Monday - Friday (closed Wednesdays) : 10:30 - 12:00, 2:00-4:00
Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 4:00
Bank Holidays 12:00 - 4:00

There is more information on the Friends of Crystal Palace Blog. (They one of the many groups set up during the consultation)

With all my fond memories of the old petting zoo many a year ago I am so pleased to hear this, this is great news and thank you for sharing it with us. I have been waiting for ages to take my little girl here (she is 16 months old and well into animals at the moment). It is a shame i am no longer on maternity leave otherwise i would have loved to help out there. Anyway looking forward to many many visits especially as the fairer weather comes in (fingers crossed).

How exciting - I remember visiting there as a child - and being scared by the goats that wandered about

May have to revisit for nostalgia sake

I still find it amazing part of the community was against it. I remember the goats fondly as well as the penguins !

Will probably visit next week with Lad.

Dazza

For further information see the Virtual Norwood Wiki page - Capel Manor College

I think the issue was whether Capel Manor could open a college on the site, teaching accredited agricultural and animal husbandry- type topics leading to qualification/employment opportunities, which would have been a real asset for young locals. I looked into it a bit because my daughter was interested in helping out in the holidays. Capel Manor have similar colleges elsewhere in London and have a good reputation.

It got blown out, to the delight of the CPCA - I seem to remember reading in one of their missives - so that the tradition of toddlers having their coats nibbled could carry on, and the less cute teens could loiter in somebody else's backyard.

I too have fond(ish) memories of the farm - the flamingos looked a bit unhappy - but the little ones love it and I'm sure Capel Manor will run it properly.

It just seems sad that we had an opportunity to have something that would have made a difference to people's lives, and it got thrown out in the name of 'preserving' the park. Joey Paxton and all those other Victorian visionaries will be spinning in their graves.

I think the issue is not that we don't want nice things in the park, rather that it is a public park so should not be carved up for private interests, no matter how noble. I think it is great that we now have the zoo with regular access for visitors AND Capel Manor can use it for some training. There was a big flap when it was going to be essentially closed, with very limited access. But an engaged public AND a willing negotiation from Capel Manor changed the model to some thing that works better for all of us. Capel Manor also lost a lot of my confidence when they started agriculturalizing a piece of land they didn't have official access to and which was a sensitive remnant of oak woodland (see Axean's posts on this long ago). They are a good organization, but their grasp of sustainability for native habitats is weak - this was really clear from a presentation they gave at one of the general group meetings a while ago. But they will work with us, and through discussion and compromise, we reached something that worked for a greater number of people.

For example, would you be happy if I managed to cut a deal with Bromley that allowed me exclusive use of the English Landscape, or the view from the topsite, for a painting school? Our aim would be to produce the most beautiful paintings of English landscape, glorifying the park, but in the meantime, to gain access you need to pay the school's tuition fees and hoik your easel up the hill as a camoflauge.

I feel similarly about the fishermen blocking off the lake full time. I understand they need to limit access to keep it maintained, but the fact that it is simply impossible for me to go and have a look in there for lovely little Daphnia, frogs, or other water friends, is not right on publicly funded land. Just a little bit of engagement with the public would make all the difference to my welcome of them, and would be great for a lot of kids in the area as well.

(rant over )

Well, in my opinion the idea is good and it is clear that the staff there is doing its best to keep the place clean.

However, I still think there isn't enough space for the animals...in particular the ponies and lamas don't seem happy at all. I think it is really unnecessary to have this kind of animals in such a small space.

I also was there once and saw a group of kids molesting the goats....so I had to intervine, none was around to supervise. I am not happy about this......

Heh, I had no idea that there was a zoo in the park (and I run round it several times a week - though have been noticing increased school parties on said runs). How exciting! Do you have to have children to go, or can grown up kids go for fun too?