The Lakeland Wildlife Oasis

Small, but packed with things to see, the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis combines a natural history learning experience with live creatures. This unique wildlife centre, south of Kendal, is home to a number of different small species, including a range of butterflies in a walk-through enclosure, various reptiles and amphibians, and lemurs that visitors can feed for an additional fee.

The centre is also part of a snow leopard breeding programme and was the first zoo in the north of England to successfully breed this delightful animal. Not too far from the M6, this is great place to break up your journey to or from the Lake District, particularly if you have young children.

Highlights

The centre has a number of interactive and informative displays that educate on the topics of evolution, biology, and natural science. There is a large fossil collection on display, including some available for fossil rubbing, which children will enjoy. Despite the centre’s small size, there are a plethora of animals to see here. In the butterfly hall, numerous species of these winged delights fly freely, alongside exotic species of birds. There are plenty of insects here to see, and some, such as scorpions and stick insects, can be handled with supervision. Young children in particular may find the frenzied efforts of the leaf cutter ants in their large colony fascinating.

The highlight of the centre has to be the snow leopards. The centre is home to a family of four of these elusive creatures, and a perspex tunnel allows visitors to walk right through their enclosure, giving a fantastic view. In addition, you can walk through a lemur enclosure, getting incredibly close to the inhabitants, and there are numerous other small creatures on display, including monkeys, meerkats, and mice.

The centre has a large cafe with a children’s menu. There are baby-changing facilities and the centre is pushchair accessible throughout. Outside, there is a small play area where children can burn off excess energy.

Getting There

The Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is just five-minutes from junction 35 of the M6. Exit the M6 and join the A601 heading north. At the end of the A601, go right at the roundabout, joining the A6 heading north. The centre is located on the A6 on the left hand side, approximately four-miles after the end of the A601.