Tuesday 14 August 2012

Goats, Alpaca and more Goats


Since reading on Eileen's blog, Life’s Hard, Wine Helps about the children’s petting zoo in the Martello Tower in Clacton, I’ve fancied a visit and I’ve now been a couple of times.

Here are two of the latest arrivals. Gorgeous aren't they?



It’s lovely! All the animals are friendly and cuddly and of course I have a soft spot for the little goats. Thumbs up from me and the kidlets.






I like petting zoos. I love that they give children the chance to meet, feed and pet animals they might not normally see. Most important of all, the animals are all happy - and did I mention friendly?



I’d never met an Alpaca before. They are so very soft. And very smiley. And they liked carrots!



One of my favourite places is Mistley Place Park. It’s not a petting zoo, it’s an animal rescue centre. They have a few dogs, but we only got to see one today. If you time your visit right, you can be there on the big field when the dogs are running about.


Mistley Place Park is in a lovely setting with a lake and a great view across the River Stour. They have a nice cafe too which you can visit without going in to see the animals. 


We got through seven bags of food on our visit today.



And of course, there are lots of lovely goats.



I absolutely love goats! But don't tell Indy!



36 comments:

  1. I've always wanted a goat(s) and a llama(s) - or alpaca(s).
    Lovely photos, Teresa.
    xxPat
    wooofs to Indy from T&T

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    1. Me too, Pat!
      Indy thanks T&T for remembering him, even though his mum has gone all ga ga about goats :-) x

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    1. They have horses at the rescue too - none as handsome as Titch of course x

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  3. Ah, you've goat to be kidding. Sorry, I'm a silly Billy :)
    I'm loving these photos and they remind of when my son was little and we took him to the petting zoo at the London zoo. I'm a big admirer of all they do at animal rescue centres.
    Gary x

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    1. They are all such characters - I remember years ago at the rescue place, a chicken with a limp took a liking to my youngest son and followed us around all the time we were there. Lovely memories, Gary x

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  4. I love goats too and still take the 'children' (22, 17 and 14!) to Slimbridge, where we wander among all sorts of birds, feed the beautiful deer and goats and always marvel at the raucous outbursts from the peacocks - so elegant, but so vile-tongued. One of them always rewards our visit by fanning out his tail.
    I love your photos, Teresa, and they remind me we haven't been there yet this year. x

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    1. Slimbridge sounds wonderful, Joanna. Peacocks are so beautiful and it is lovely to be able to walk round where the animals are free to wander too x

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  5. I love goats, too. My grandmother used to meet me from the school bus, with two in hand. They were called Matilda and History, a couple of real characters.

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    1. What a lovely memory, Martin. And what brilliant names! x

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  6. I've never been to a petting zoo before. Sounds purrr..fect. Lovely pictures. Bet you had a great day with the grandchildren.

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  7. Aw... they are so cute and what a lovely idea for children (and adults)!

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    1. Thinking about it, it would be nice to go to the rescue place without children too :-) x

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  8. I love goats too and piglets and cows and ... most animals are rather nice actually.

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    1. Very true, Patsy - and a lot better behaved than some people I have to say x

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  9. Indy...where are you? There's something you need to know...

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    1. He's sulking now, Elizabeth. He went off muttering something about growing a pair of horns :-) x

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  10. I used to take my children to a petting zoo a few miles from here and they loved it. They didn't have any alpacas though and I've always wanted to have a few. I can't see it happening any time soon though.

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    1. I'd never met one before. They are so cuddly aren't they :-) x

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  11. There's a great little animal farm near us that our grandchildren love to visit. The highlight is a bumpy cart ride around the site, pulled by a gorgeous horse called Charlie.xx

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  12. looks like everyone is having fun! These types of zoos are great for little people. I took my grandson to the Sea Zoo we have here on Anglesey a few weeks ago. Later, on the way home my DH asked him what his favourite fish was. Quick as a flash he replied, "Fish Fingers!". LOL - Caroline x

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    1. Love it, Caroline :-) You should send that in to a magazine! I love the things kids come out with :-) x

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  13. Lovely post Teresa. I enjoy seeing the faces of the children at the petting zoos, especially when it's a case of 'new discoveries'. :-)

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  14. I want one of those piggies! How cute are they...
    Wondering now if we have anything like that in my area. If so, then I must visit. Thanks for sharing with us.

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    1. They were so cute, Maria. They'd only just got them and said not to feed them in case they bit, but no one said anything about not stroking them and they loved being tickled :-) x

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  15. Alpacas seem to be growing ever more popular. When I'm on the train I notice several fields of them, and they've become a landmark in my journey. I've always fancied a goat too. If I won the lottery tonight I'd love to have enough land to take in a few rescued animals.

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    1. I can see why they're so popular, Joanne. They are lovely. And that is my dream too - lottery win = animal rescue! I even have my eye on exactly the place I want for it :-) x

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  16. Alpacas are the BEST!!!! Awwww they are adorable!! They seem to be in large groups here in Herts for some reason!! LOL!! There are a few farms with herds of these gorgeous gorgeous animals!!! I totally love them. Oh and goats! Awwwww what's not to like about their faces - they have the most incredible eyes!! I'm also partial to donkeys! LOL!

    Great reasons to visit Clacton! Take care
    x

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    1. Ooh yes, Old Kitty, I am very fond of donkeys too. My friend's mum used to have a pair of rescue donkeys and I used to walk my kids up to see them as a special treat :-) x

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  17. Since I read this post yesterday, my writing friend Angela Pickering has reminded me that she is a cousin of the owners of the Mistley animal centre. What a small world we inhabit!

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    1. Isn't that amazing, Joanne. It was like me finding out about the Clacton place from Eileen Thornton. It is indeed a very small world. I recognise Angela's name - I love her stories :-) x

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