Free safari sculpture trail coming to Chantry Place this summer

From Saturday 22nd July until Sunday 3rd September 2023, we will be hosting a free ‘Safari Summer’ event with large animal sculptures, free crafts and educational activities from Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve.

Throughout the summer holidays, Chantry Place will be home to 10 animal sculptures, including a giant hippo, lion, giraffe, elephant, panda and more. Visitors can pick up a trail map from Deichmann on the lower ground floor of Chantry Place and then go on a safari hunt to find them all. Once complete, families can head back to Deichmann to pick up a free goody bag offering a complimentary child’s ticket for free entry to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive Reserve with a full paying adult, as well as an animal medal or prize, and enter their details to be in with a chance of winning a family annual pass to Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, with an annual pass up for grabs every week.

Every Wednesday in the summer holidays, Chantry Place will host ‘Wild Wednesdays’ with local company, Schoodoodle, hosting free arts and crafts sessions with themes changing every week. Suitable for children aged four and above, these need to be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Some of the activities include making a lion’s mane and a bird of prey mask! These events are now sold out. If you still want to book, there is now a waiting list for each event.

As part of Wild Wednesdays, the education team from Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve will also be at Chantry Place. Visitors can visit the discovery station, which will include artefacts, animal information and other zoo-related puzzles and games, on the lower ground floor near HMV. Visitors will have the opportunity to find out more about the animals they care for and about their work. They will also be at Chantry Place on 22nd and 23rd July, and 14th and 15th August 2023.

Paul McCarthy, our general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “Families can have a fun-filled day exploring Chantry Place this summer, going on our summer safari to find our animal sculptures and learning some animal facts along the way. We are really excited by the partnership we have created with Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve this summer, who are providing an educational link and are generously providing some incredible prizes and offers for people doing the trail. We will be working with SchooDoodle to allow little ones to get creative every Wednesday and we can’t wait to see what they come up with! All our summer activities and events are free at Chantry Place.”

Joshua Hunter-Harl, head of marketing at The Zoological Society of East Anglia, the charity that runs Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the ‘Safari Summer’ event at Chantry Place and are excited to engage with visitors through our educational activities. As a conservation charity, education lies at the heart of everything we do, and a trip to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive Reserve offers students of all ages an unmissable opportunity to bring learning to life outside of the classroom. We hope our partnership will help to inspire a love of animals and nature in children and adults alike.”

Hannah Cole and Terry Stewart, from team SchooDoodle, comments: “We are so excited to be part of ‘Safari Summer’ at Chantry Place and can’t wait to get creative every Wednesday. We have a different animal themed crafting activity each week. Join us in embracing the mess, empowering creativity, and making memories with your little ones this summer.”

Norfolk Wildlife Trust will also be visiting the Centre on Monday 7th August and Monday 21st August and will be educating visitors on urban wildlife, plus hosting free, fun activities for all to enjoy.

To book the free SchooDoodle crafts events visit Wild Wednesdays Children’s Arts & Crafts Sessions | Eventbrite

For more information on Safari Summer keep an eye on our website.