Penscynor Wildlife Park

Penscynor Wildlife Park was a wildlife and safari park located near Neath in South Wales.

Penscynor Wildlife Park
51.6809069°N 3.7828966°W / 51.6809069; -3.7828966[1]
Date opened	1971
Date closed	September 1998
Location	Neath, Wales
Land area	11 acres (4.5 ha)
No. of animals	174
Annual visitors	200,000

History

In 1966, Neath builder Idris Hale bought the semi-derelict Penscynor House in Cilfrew. The 11-acre (4.5 ha) grounds then became home to a large collection of exotic parrots and a number of charity days were held in response to public demand to see the birds.

Idris then decided to open the park to the public in 1971. It was launched by TV personality Johnny Morris, of the Animal Magic TV series.^[2]

Success followed and it remained in the family's ownership until 1996 when Mr Hale's grandson, Jonathan Hale-Quant, took it over.

The park had annual attendance of 200,000 visitors and employed 18 staff.^[3]

Inhabitants

• Mammals 28
• Birds 87
• Reptiles 8
• Amphibians 3
• Fish 40
• Invertebrates 8

Total 174 animals at time of closure.

Closure

Since 1998 the park has been abandoned. Starting in 1999, the Northern part of the park was developed into 41 residential units, retaining the children's playground from the zoo and area around it as open space.^[4][5]

Jonathan Quant put Penscynor House up for sale in 2005.^[6] Plans for converting it from "residential dwelling (Class C3) to care home for up to 5 residents (Class C2)" were approved on 18 October 2011.^[7] Many of the enclosures still existed as of 2012, including the chimp houses and penguin pool. All structures are derelict, and in poor condition.^[8]

References

1. "Existing and proposed Floor Plan and Location Plan Plan". planning.npt.gov.uk. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Retrieved 27 June 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
2. "A sad end for popular visitor attraction", This is South Wales, 22 February 2011.
3. "Zoos that have closed". Retrieved 30 July 2011.
4. "Registration of Local Land Charges". planning.npt.gov.uk. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Retrieved 27 June 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
5. "Approval of Detailed Plans". planning.npt.gov.uk. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Retrieved 27 June 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
6. Corney, Kate (8 December 2005). "Landmark up for sale". walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
7. "Proposed change of use from residential dwelling (Class C3) to care home for up to 5 residents (Class C2)". planning.npt.gov.uk. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
8. Jones, Alexander (April 2012). "Penscynor Wildlife Park". flickr.com. Alexander Jones. Retrieved 27 June 2012.