Walton Gardens children’s zoo
One of the park's most popular attractions, the children's zoo boasts a colourful array of birds and animals.
You can visit any day of the year and entry is free of charge. The zoo is open on Christmas day and new year's day between 10.30am and 12noon only. Feeding time is 2pm in summer and 1pm in winter.
Our 'adopt an animal' scheme has a variety of animals including peacocks and pygmy goats waiting to be adopted. The money raised will all be spent on improvements to the zoo, helping to provide better facilities for animals, birds and visitors. For more information and an application form, visit the animal adoption scheme page.
The rangers are always on hand to answer questions and are happy to give advice on animals. We run ‘keeper for the day’ events if you would like to find out what the children's zoo is all about.
Animal adoption scheme
Thank you for your interest in the adoption scheme at the children’s zoo. The scheme has been successfully running since 1 December 2003.
Who can I adopt?
The animals available for adoption are:
- our herd of African pygmy goats
- the peacocks
- Bo-Bo the donkey
- our Shetland ponies – Lotty and Pebbles
- our collection of rabbits and ferrets
- our miniature pot bellied pigs.
Apart from Bo-Bo, individual animals are not up for adoption as sometimes animals move home or are changed for breeding purposes.
How much will it cost me?
The minimum cost for adopting our animals is an annual fee of £12 (£1 for each month). This covers any running costs of the scheme, while allowing us to save some money for the animals. However if you wish to donate more it will be gratefully received! Adoptions run from the first of each month for a year. You will be sent a reminder one month before your adoption is up for renewal.
What do I get?
The adoption pack will include:
- bi-annual newsletter, sent out April and October
- celebration card from the chosen animal on the adopters birthday (or other special date)
- special adoption evenings where you can chat with the keepers about the animal or bird you have adopted
- your name on our adoption board
- animal ‘fact pack’ about your chosen animal or bird
- gift featuring the animal of your choice
- photograph
- certificate of adoption.
To download an application pack click here.
What happens to my money?
Warrington Borough Council funds the zoo and gives us an annual budget that covers the animals' food bills. We need to keep that budget and so will be using the money raised by the adoption scheme for larger scale projects for the animals that we do not have monies for.
The first project funded was our new set of ornamental zoo gates, now in-situ, to help improve security for the animals and make the zoo entrance more inviting for visitors. Our next project is currently being planned and we are hoping to build a new food store and animal hospital area. Adoption money will be used to secure larger amounts of finding from grants organisations such as WREN.
Schools and community groups
We have tailored the animal adoption scheme especially for schools and community groups.
If your group would like to adopt an animal, please speak to one of the rangers for further details.
Red squirrel adoption
We have extended the scheme to include red squirrel adoption from the children’s zoo. To download more information click here.
Walton_Gardens_Childrens_Zoo_survey.doc