A - Otter Trust

A heart-warming success story since it was founded 28 years ago, the Olter Trust
has reintroduced 117 otters into the wild, reversing a trend that saw them
disappearing from large areas ofthe country. Most have been released into Rivers in
East Anglia, where they were virtually extinct in the early 1980s. The
biggest draw for children, however, are the playful Asian short-clawed otters. They
are fed at the same time as their European relatives, but are much tamer
“and seem genuinely curious about their human visitors, too.

Other attractions: Enclosures with ducks and geese. Cafe with hot drinks, cakes,
etc.

Best buy: Cuddiy otter cub, £4

B - Seal Sanctuary.

Some of the seals here live in a sheltered community. Their home is a series of
pools set among the pastures and woodiands overlooking the Helford estuary. Each
one has
problems which means they can never be set free. Rocky, for example, used to
perform tricks at a marine centre unti he started going bind. The centre also
rescues wild seals that
are sick, injured or orphaned. They convalesce at the sanctuary unti they are ft
again.

Other attractions: Underwater observatory, a few retired donkeys, nature trail Cafe
with ice-creams.

Best buy: All sizes offufiy seals, £2.99 -£19 99.

C- Sheep Centre
'Grazing on the top of chalk cis is Terry Wigmore's fock of sheep — 340 adults from
47 Ertish breeds. And down in a couple of old barns in the vilage of East Dean is
the Seven
Sisters visitor centre, where a team of 15 lambs obligingly line up to be botile-ed
by waiting visitors. The Easter holidays are a good time to go, váth four or five
lambs bom every day.
“Tnirty pence buys you a bag offeed for the ewes and there are plenty of takers,
including local celebrity and TV star, Twiggy.

Other attractions: Occasional weaving. Cate with light lunches and cream teas.

Best buy: Sheep's milk ice cream, 75p a cone.

D- Abbotsford Swannery.
The Swannery is by no means new. It has been managed since at least 1393, when it
belonged to a Benedictine monastery. The main problem the management has had since
then
has been how to protect the young cygnets from foxes. A local farmer recentiy came
up with an unusual solution — Radio 4 should be played through loudspeakers. lt
seems the
foxes don't like classical music. The present manager, David Wheeler, tried it and
it worked!

Highlight of the visit is feeding time, at noon and 4pm. Hundreds of swans gather
to greet a member of staff who pushes a wheelbarrow full ofwheat down a path to the
lagoon.
Other attractions: Rides in a horse-drawn carriage. Picnic area. Playground for
children.
Best buy: Cuddy toy eygnet, £3.95.

E - Ashdown Llama Farm.

“The centre is full of displays designed to show why these producers of soft wool
are so much nicer than other farm animals. Llamas don't damage trees, tney don't
make nolse and

they wil happily accompany you on walks and carry your bags for you. Between 60 and
70 llamas and alpacas live here. One of the current stars is Iwo year old Tom, a
handsome
“and exceptionally woollylight-brown male. You can ses him and the others on a
self-guided vralk around the restored 181h century farm buíidings, where youll also
meet and learn
'more about the llamas" relatives, the alpacas and guanacos.

Other attractions: Cashmere and angora coats. Tea shop.

Best buy: Soft alpaca knit wear.