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Scottish wildcat kitten

A rare Scottish wildcat kitten carries the hopes of its species on its tiny shoulders.

The male kitten was born to two pure bred Scottish wildcats, said to be Britain's rarest mammal, at Wildwood Discovery Park, near Canterbury, Kent.

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The newborn kitten with mother Flora (2007)

Its parents, Hamish and Flora, are among only 400 Scottish wildcats left in the world and scientists warn they could become extinct within our lifetime.

Wildcats have been resident in Britain for more than two million years, sharing the land with the mammoth, cave bear and cave lion long before humans found their way through Europe's forests.

The youngster explores his surroundings

After centuries of persecution, deforestation and competition from introduced species, the numbers of Scottish wildcats have plummetted.

The kitten's birth will help boost the increasingly important captive population in the UK, which could save the species from future extinction.

"The kitten was born earlier this month but it is only now that the proud mother has brought the kitten out to meet the public."

Originally a forest dweller, the Scottish wildcat is 50 per cent larger than a domestic cat and preys mainly on rodents and small mammals but also on birds, insects, reptiles and fish.

With extinction a possibility as soon as this decade, the next few years will be key in deciding whether the Scottish wildcat will survive.

BBC CBeebies SPRINGWATCH ON AIR FROM WILDWOOD

The fourth Springwatch series hits the BBC TV screens next week. While, presenters Bill Oddie and Kate Humble will be broadcasting the show live at Fishleigh estate Devon, The junior version of Springwatch will be coming to you from Wildwood, Kent's Unique Woodland Discover Park.

CBeebie presenters, Jelly and Justine, will be broadcasting five nature report specials from Wildwood. You can watch Jelly's special Nature reports on CBeebies and BBC2 starting on the 4th June.

Jelly & Justine have made 5 nature report specials about different animals you find in Wildwood. These where our wild boar piglets, badgers, our baby red squirrels, some water voles from our breeding programme and Britain's most adorable animal the dormice.

Visitors to the Canterbury Based Conservation Centre over the last few weeks, especially children, have been delighted to discover their favourite television presenters, lurking in the undergrowth followed by a camera crew.

CBeebies Springwatch is a family event; it aims to get children out and about looking at nature, encouraging them to find out about the world about them.

Justin Fletcher, who is very knowledgeable about wildlife and runs his own tortoise sanctuary, has agreed to become a Patron of Wildwood Trust and promised to visit us again. So keep an eye out for him or his alter ego 'Mr Tumble' as you walk around the park.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

For more info on CBeebies Springwatch, go to the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/springwatch/

Night Tours

• FEEL the wolves tracking you silently through the birch woods like silver shadows on silent feet
• HEAR the beavers splashing in their pond
• SPOT the badgers foraging under the oak trees

ALL UNDER THE MOON AT WILDWOOD!

Why not come on a tour by moonlight (clouds allowing) and experience the woodland and the animals that live here at a time when the darkness belongs to them.

Attendance: Minimum - 15; Maximum - 30

Age restriction: Minimum - 10 years old.

Cost: £20 per person, including hot meal in our restaurant.

Booking: Please download the information and booking pack and then return the booking form to us:

Night tour booking form - pdf document (142k)

Night tour booking form - Word Document (83k)                 

Night tours are open to anyone over the age of 10 years (children must be accompanied by a responsible adult). They are scheduled to last approximately 2 hours and, from April to October, include feeding our family of badgers (please note: our badgers are reluctant to leave their sett on winter nights, so their appearance cannot be guaranteed).
           
Places MUST be booked in advance by completing and returning a booking form, together with full payment of £20 per person. Places will be allocated on receipt of a completed booking form and payment, strictly on a first come, first served basis. While we will make every effort to fit you in on your chosen date, we may have to offer you an alternative if your preferred date is fully booked. Tours will run if there are more than 15 people booked up to a maximum of 30. If a tour should have to be cancelled for any reason, we will contact you to reschedule. Please make sure we have a daytime and an on the night emergency contact  number for you.

To read some of our documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is free and can be downloaded from www.adobe.comAdobe site.

Photo Days

Wildwood is offering the opportunity to take photos of our animals with our resident phtographer Ryan Ladbrook.

These days will allow photographers of all skills levels the chance to get close to and photograph British animals, at the same time Ryan will be on hand to give help and advice on how to get those special shots.

Different animals will be photographed across the day.

Days will run from 10:30 – 12:30 and 1:30 – 3:30 allowing an hour for lunch when you can make use of our restaurant or bring your own packed lunch.

The days will have a minimum of four people up to a maximum of 10.

The cost will be £75 per person.

These unique days are on Thursday May 7th, Saturday June 13th & Saturday September 19with further dates later in the year.

If you would like to book or would like more information please contact Martyn on 01227 712111 or e-mail martyn@wildwoodtrust.org with the form below.

All the details and booking form can be downloaded

Photo Day - pdf document (81k)

Zoo Keeper for a Day

• See what it is like to be a zoo keeper at Britain's best British Wildlife Park.

Only one lucky person per month will be able to book this unique experience.

Age restriction: Minimum - 18 years old.

Cost: £195 per person includes refreshments, T-shirts and mounted colour photo.

Other Restrictions: No animal handling is allowed and be reasonably fit.

Booking: Please download the information, contract and booking form, then return it to us:

Zoo Keeper for a Day - pdf document (142k)

So you want to be a Zoo Keeper

• Short course for children on life as a zoo keeper.

Plan an enclosure, make your animal's life more exciting, use tools, prepare an animal feed, learn basic health and safety, distribute a feed and meet an animal.

Only five children per session, November 28/29, 10am-12noon for 7-10yrs and 1:30-3:30pm for 10+yrs.

Cost: £50 per child

Booking: Please download the information, contract and booking form, then return it to us:

Please note this is just a taster for children, not a full zoo keeper for a day experience

So you want to be a zoo keeper - pdf document (142k)