W1Mum

Sunday, 1 May 2016

Land of the Lions - London Zoo

The lions are back at London Zoo after a holiday in Whipsnade whilst their enclosure received a much needed update. The three lionesses: Rubi, Heidi and Indi are now housed alongside a recreated Indian village, showing just how close the Asiatic Lions really live next to the Maldhari people in Gir National Park.

The new Land of Lions entrance within London Zoo.

Erbie entering the Lion's den

The attention to detail throughout is amazing from weathered signs, random pots and pans, bicycles, to peeling paintwork and planting.

Welcome signs to the entrance of Gir National Park, India (London Zoo).

Sign to entrance of Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Signs to entrance of Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Painted wall mural map in the Land of the Lions

Random Indian pots and pans.

After walking past a cafe and a lorry piled high with rainbow crates, all at once we were in an Indian village - full of fruit stalls, flip-flops, brightly coloured bunting, shop fronts offering chai, spices and haircuts, rickshaws and decorated cows.

Around the corner India awaits!

Rainbow crates piled on a lorry.

Cafe - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

General Store - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Fruit stalls

A fun idea for the children to see themselves with a lion's mane haircut - simply look into the mirror!

Barber's sign - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

See yourself - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Monkey sign - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Market trolley, Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Flip-flops and sandals - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

A holy cow - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Painted rickshaw - Land of the Lions, London Zoo

There is plenty to look at and do as you walk through, first up the train station where we saw a pair of mongoose in the ticket office!

Touch the nose of the bronze lion to bring you luck.

Lucky bronze lionhead outside the station

Touching the lion's nose can bring you great fortune!

Amazing planting

There are even train tracks and a signal at the station.

Railway tracks, and a signal

Punch a hole in your ticket on the old desk in the station, surrounded by posters, timetables, a map and a screen displaying informative videos about the lions and their habitat.

An old desk in the station with ticket punch.

Ticket punch and old an wire tray

I was really impressed with the design of the areas around the enclosure, the attention to detail was amazing – things like an old wire tray on the desk in the train station (see above); and wonderful retro posters like the travel one below.

Some of the signs had beautifully hand drawn lettering and pictures.

A series of raised walkways surround the area from which one can see into the lions’ enclosure safely.

Stairs to a raised viewing gallery and walkway

The lion enclosure

There was also a ‘bicycle shop’ where you can try reach the speed of an Asiatic lion by pedalling.

Land of the Lions, London Zoo

The boys attempt to cycle at the speed of lion and see how high they can pump the air gauge!

Land of the Lions, London Zoo

Next take a pilgrimage through the steep sided rocks to the Ginar hills, (i.e through one of the viewing walkways) look up for lion’s tails on the way to the Langur Fort.

Land of the Lions, London Zoo

We spotted the lions, all curled up together in the rain.

Two lionesses asleep in the rain

And on to the Langur Fort.

London Zoo - Land of the Lions

A jeep with a large lion crate beside.

Stay the night!

To complete a fully immersive experience one can book a Sunset Safari (from May onwards) and actually stay over night in your own private cabin or Gir Lodge for a family friendly evening and dinner within roaring distance of the lions.

Spend the night in The Land of the Lions

ZSL London Zoo (website here)

Regent’s Park

London

NW1 4RY

General price for the whole zoo, including the Land of Lions

Adult: £24.25

Child: £17.60

Sunday, 28 February 2016

Sunday Poem - I Saw A Jolly Hunter by Charles Causley

I Saw A Jolly Hunter

I saw a jolly hunter

With a jolly gun
Walking in the country
In the jolly sun.

In the jolly meadow
Sat a jolly hare.
Saw the jolly hunter.
Took jolly care.

Hunter jolly eager-
Sight of jolly prey.
Forgot gun pointing
Wrong jolly way.

Jolly hunter jolly head
Over heels gone.
Jolly old safety catch
Not jolly on.

Bang went the jolly gun.
Hunter jolly dead.
Jolly hare got clean away.
Jolly good, I said.

By Charles Causley

March Hare: Resting by Clare Challice available as limited edition print here.

March Hare: Resting © Clare Challice

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Valentine in Muswell Village

Tongue firmly planted in cheek with the title here. I realise I never really take much notice of the places I grew up in, I guess familiarity really does breed contempt. I decided to be a bit of a tourist in my own manor and see what caught my eye.

Firstly the shops on Muswell Hill Broadway. Everfresh is always good for big bunches of coriander and flat-leaf parsley, halva, hummus, harissa and fresh fruit and veg.

Everfresh, Muswell Hill

Maison Blanc for bottles of french lemonade, the annual Galette des Rois for Epiphany and cakes.

Maison Blanc - Muswell Hill

You can see across London on a clear day from the Broadway.

Muswell Hill overlooking London

Cute flats above Marks & Spencer.

Marks & Spencers Muswell Hill

Crocodile Cafe is very child friendly with outdoor seating and a new pizza oven.

Crocodile Cafe Muswell Hill

Martyn's is a Muswell Hill institution, their coffee grinder is usually chuntering away in the front window of a Saturday, and the freshly ground coffee is excellent. They also stock all types of loose ingredients from dried fruit and nuts to coffee beans. Quaintly the original old fashioned till is still in use and one collects change through a cubby hole.