Cornwall Life: August 2019 85BEST FOR
ANIMAL LOVERSNewquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo celebrates its
50th birthday this year. Originally
established as a petting zoo, it now
houses 130 different species - from
antelopes and apes to zebras in 13
acres of sub-tropical gardens.
Visit different zones including
the savannahs of Africa and the
rainforests of South America.
Smaller creatures have their
own tropical house.
newquayzoo.org.ukMonkey Sanctuary
The sanctuary has been caring for
primates for more than 50 years –
rescuing them from an unsuitable life
as pets and but cannot be released
into the wild. There are more than
40 monkeys in the family including
Capuchins, Barbary Macaques,
Woolly Monkeys and Marmosets.
The south-facing gardens overlook
Looe Bay and are packed with life
including about 285 wildflower
species and woodland. There’s a
Wild Play Area and a wildlife room
exhibition which includes a bat cam.
monkeysanctuary.orgBlue Reef Aquarium
A wonderful underwater world is
never far away in Cornwall. Discover
more at the Blue Reef Aquarium at
Towan Beach in Newquay. There
are 40 fishy habitats including
sharks, turtles, giant Pacific octopus,
lobsters, crabs and corals. There’s an
underwater tunnel which takes you
to the heart of the action
bluereefaquarium.co.ukOld Macdonald’s Farm
Discover life is like down on the farm,
and meet lambs, chickens, ducks,
geese, pigs, ponies and calves –
alongside the more unusual alpacas
and owls. As well as animals, there
are tractors, roller racers, trampolines,
climbing frames, crazy golf and
miniature train and pony rides.
oldmacdonalds.co.ukGUIDE TO SUMMER
natural resources. At Wheal
Martyn the indoor and outdoor
museum will help you discover
the Victorian clay works,
once at the heart of a thriving
industry. Learn how the workers
extracted china clay for use in
ceramics, plastics and paper.
Much of the original equipment
at this Scheduled Ancient
Monument at Carthew near St
Austell has been preserved and
you’ll see working waterwheels,
the essential settling pools,
vintage vehicles, tunnels and
beautiful walks – you can
go through the woods to see
machines in action in the
modern working clay pit.
An exhibition, Engineering
the Earth, looks at the roles of
science and engineering in the
china clay industry. Guess the
items in the mystery cabinet
and see the role kaolin played in
cosmetics. Check out the website
for Land Rover tours of the pits
this month.
wheal-martyn.comTIN MINING
The National Trust has been at
the forefront of protecting and
preserving Cornwall’s tin mining
past with the iconic engine
houses littering the landscape.
It includes the cliffs at Botallack
near St Just with Wheal Edward
and Wheal Owles which is part
of the Cornish Mining World
Heritage Site, familiar to Poldark
fans as the location for the
fictional Wheal Leisure.
Also part of the Heritage Site
is nearby Levant Mine and Beam
Engine which has a restored 1840s
beam engine running on steam.
It provides a useful insight into
the world of tin mining. Other
sites which help to tell the story
include East Pool Mine with
two giant beam engines at Pool
near Redruth, the nearby home
of Cornish engineer Richard
Trev it hic k – Trev it hic k Cot tage
at Penponds – and Wheal Coates
near St Agnes on dramatic cliffs
carpeted with heather and gorse.
nationaltrust.org.ukTOP: A view of
the ruined engine
houses Wheal
Edward and
Wheal Owles
on the coast at
Botallack
ABOVE: Wheal
Martyn indoor and
outdoor museum
tells the story of
Cornwall’s China
Clay industry
ABOVE RIGHT:
A red panda
helps celebrate
Newquay Zoo’s
50th birthday this
year©National Trust Images/John Miller