Visiting the Zoo.

Most big events have pre holiday children at the end of July
its their end of term treat.
Letting their hair down after exams etc

Last week we were at Thomas Land at Drayton manor park and zoo.
There were coach loads of children all having fun.
We still had a great day out with my family for DGS 4th birthday.
May suggest that you try again just after the schools reopen in September

There was a lovely programme the other afternoon on BBC2 about the Amur Leopard [sp] breeding programme [along with an orphanage for baby elephants].Was in tears watching it! I'm afraid children are fit to burst just prior to end of term time. Must have been a great place to work at; I had a plan to work with the elephants at London Zoo when I was 18. I even set off for London to do so but never got there#wasabitnaive

Whilst it sounds like the children were simply enjoying themselves I can understand how the shouting and charging around might be irritating but the eating?

Thanks for your comments,never thought about the end of term treat.
Yes Tegan, was a great place to work didn't need any qualifications those days,just commen sense.I was 22,loved it,didn't even want my day off!
I was paid about £ 11-50 per week, and my then boyfriend £ 22 ish. No equal pay those days?.I used to feel sorry for the big cats, they just had a concrete cage with a run.After I left someone poisened them all,I did wonder if they had done them a favour?The lions had a better life as there was pride of them and they had a nice grass paddock.Its much better now.

This rings a bell!! Wherever and whenever DH and I go anywhere there seems to be a school trip (even in overseas countries as well).

I'd thought working with the elephants would be really easy but when I was a lot older I spoke to an elephant keeper at London Zoo who told me how dangerous they were. I think one of elephants did move to Chester and there was a tragic accident of some kind? You ought to write your memoirs Elen!

I love being around young people and children, especially when they're having fun!
Great that they enjoyed their day at the zoo. I'm assuming the zoo owners and keepers thought so too, without visitors they would be in a sorry state.

That elephant, I believe, was called Nobby, he had a sad end.
I remember one visit to Chester Zoo when I was about 14, the apes at that time were in an enclosure on an island surrounded by water. People were throwing food to them, a young girl near us was throwing buns, when there were none left, one large chimp picked up a large stone and lobbed it across, it went between me and her! Chester was always my favourite zoo, but haven`t been for a long time, live too far away now for a day trip.

You are being a bit grumpy! Kids are entitled as a to be to visit the zoo and have a great day out too. Sorry it irritated you but sounds like they were just exuberant young people having fun.

Elenkalubleton
If you live close enough to Chester zoo to visit regularly, think about taking out membership!
We've been members for close on thirty years now, and as soon as the zoo offered 'lifetime' memberships we saved up and both became lifetime members!
Our DS and DDiL both have lifetime memberships too, and get lots of use from their membership.
I probably wouldn't take out a lifetime membership later in life, but annual membership is still a very good deal.
You paid around £22-00 each, whereas 12 months joint adult membership would have cost you £161-00, or £145-00 if you sign up to pay by direct debit next year (if anything goes wrong, you can always cancel the DD).
If you're both over the age of 65, you would also get the Adult Concession price which would have taken an extra 10% off the bill, leaving you to pay just £130-50 for as many visits to the zoo as you wish until this time next year!
We go as often as we can outside of school holidays, or dates close to end of term, as that's when the school trips are.
We're lucky in that we live very close to the zoo, so can just drop in as and when we want. Plus, with having memberships, we don't have to stay for ages to get our money's worth, and often get there at 10-00 and are home again by 1-00. That way we avoid crowds all the time!
I'm not overly impressed with the Islands, outdoors is great, but I don't like the feeling of being 'shepherded around' inside. However, I tolerate it just to see the Silver Gibbons, I could watch them for ever?