232 : Transport by car, transport by train, transport by cars on trains, transport.
August 1970 - Woburn Abbey England
My parents took us to England and Ireland to visit relatives in the summer of 1970. As an 18 year old I was less than thrilled by this idea. Typically I now wish I had paid closer attention. I did buy some amazing clothes though!!
My paternal uncle, lived in Wolverhampton and we stayed a few days with them. He took us to Woburn which was the first ever.time we had ever visited an outdoor zoo where the animals could walk up to the car.
Woburn Safari Park first opened in 1970, established by the 13th Duke of Bedford on the grounds of his estate, Woburn Abbey, as a means to help improve the financial position of the estate and restore the Abbey, which had fallen into disrepair as a consequence of the second world war and very high taxes levied by socialist Governments. The 11th Duke of Bedford had been president of the Zoological Society of London and had introduced various species to the park.
Nice way to say hello to a giraffe!
ReplyDeleteI find myself between being awed by the animals, yet being fearful that one could knock through the window or push the car over.
ReplyDeleteOh, that picture reminds me of Lion Country Safari which opened prior to Kings Dominion here in Virginia. We drove our car through the safari where animals roamed freely - that was about 1974, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick to petting zoos, thank you, where the animals are young & fairly non-dangerous . . . except for the llamas & goats who try to eat anything straw like hats - especially if they're adorned with fake flowers - or purses!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good trip, Wolvethampton is where Nigel Slater lived in his youth. Fancy that if had run into him.
ReplyDeleteLove the animals coming up to the cars
Giraffes don't seem as dangerous as some other animals.
ReplyDeleteIt seems there was a time a few decades ago when it was popular to have environments like this where cars could drive through the habitats of wild animals - and then they disappeared. I think they're coming back, though, because one or two zoos that I know of have just opened this sort of free-range environment. I always think it's exciting to be so close to a wild animal (except the camels, who spit!).
ReplyDeleteThose were the small British cars of the 60s, so they make the giraffe seem even larger! A canvas sun roof would have added some excitement.
ReplyDeleteMy younger son lived for years on the tale of a giraffe wrapping its tongue round his bare waist. The white car at the back would not have been classed as small.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been quite incredible to see a giraffe like that.
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