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Drusillas Park


No Ordinary Zoo!

Description

Drusillas Park contains over 70 species of animal including monkeys, penguins, meerkats, otters, flamingos, owls, red pandas and anteaters, plus a walk through lemur, rainbow lorikeet and bat/sloth enclosures. There are also many educational interactives such as the Zoolympics Challenges and Animal Spotter Trail with free booklets.

The Education Department offers a wide variety of hands-on and interactive primary education sessions including Animal Encounters, Habitats & Adaptations, Rainforests, Fur, Feathers & Scales (Classification), Minibeasts, Conservation, Animal Care and Maasai Life. Most sessions involve animal encounters and use animal artefacts (e.g. tusks, shells and furs) on loan from HM Revenue and Customs.

Once the learning is done children can let off steam in the indoor and outdoor adventure play areas and take a ride on our Safari Express train. There is also Hello Kitty Secret Garden which includes three rides, and our Rainforest Carousel, Flying Cheetahs and Hippopotabus rides.

For older students talk and tours are provided, so students can learn about Drusillas as a successful zoo and visitor attraction. Topics offered range from Marketing, Customer Service and Business Studies to Conservation, Animal Care and Animal Behaviour.

Schools gain large discounts on regular entry prices and free teacher preliminary visits are available.
With all this and much, much more you’ll experience the most fun-funding-out day-out you can imagine!


Reviews

The following reviews have been added by visit leaders using the EVOLVE system.
Overview
4.7
61 reviews


Excellent
 
75%

Very Good
 
23%

Average
 
2%

Poor
 
0%

Awful
 
0%

Drusillas was brilliant - there were lots of animals, and it was all very applicable to the science we have been covering during the spring term of Year 5. The activity session was very good - the person leading the session was engaging and had interesting information and activities for the children to do. However, after the children had gone round the zoo there was little else left for them to do. (April 2024 - Primary School)




(March 2024 - Primary School)




(March 2024 - Primary School)




(January 2024 - Primary School)




Although the children enjoyed an exciting visit, our staff felt that the talk delivered (which had been paid extra for) did not cover the expected Y1 Science criteria. (January 2024 - Primary School)




(November 2023 - Primary School)




Visited as part of the sixthform level 3 animal care course. (August 2023 - Secondary School)




(June 2023 - Secondary School)




(April 2023 - Primary School)




(March 2023 - Primary School)




(March 2023 - Primary School)




(March 2023 - Primary School)




(February 2023 - Primary School)




(December 2022 - Primary School)




(October 2022 - Secondary School)




(July 2022 - Primary School)




Great workshops (July 2022 - Primary School)




We visited as part of a general enrichment programme and Drusillas was very accommodating delivering talks on conservation and animal care. (July 2022 - Secondary School)




The staff at Drusillas were fantastic. All the paperwork was completed via email and promptly. The park itself was clean, organised, welcoming and the information for children to see read touch and interact with was second to none. (June 2022 - Primary School)




The children had a lovely day learning about the different rainforest animals. The rainforest workshop was very informative too. (April 2022 - Primary School)




Really helpful communication right the way through the process from initial enquiry to post visit resources. Staff were well prepared for us and met us on arrival, ensured we were well looked after throughout. (March 2022 - Secondary School)




Really helpful communication right the way through the process from initial enquiry to post visit resources. Staff were well prepared for us and met us on arrival, ensured we were well looked after throughout. (March 2022 - Secondary School)




Knowledgeable guide. Hands on experience in guided sessions were enjoyable by the children. (March 2022 - Primary School)




(March 2022 - Primary School)




From arrival to departure Drusillas and particularly James were brilliant at working with the children and accommodating our needs - I would strongly recommend people visit here with their children. (November 2021 - Primary School)




Engaging, interactive learning opportunities in a safe environment. (November 2021 - Primary School)




(November 2021 - Secondary School)




(September 2021 - Primary School)




(July 2021 - Primary School)




Excellent talks for the students tailored to specific needs. JAmes Woodward has been at the park over 18 years so is able to show how and why the business has adapted. Covid secure venue (June 2021 - Secondary School)




Drusillas had all necessary Covid-19 procedures in place. We were greeted upon arrival by the education officer who clarified our booking details. The education sessions were purposeful and appropriate for the age of the children and were still hands on and covid safe. (June 2021 - Primary School)




(May 2021 - Primary School)




Excellent venue and good quality workshops. Some elements of workshops could have been more active. (February 2020 - Primary School)




lenty to kee the children occuied. a mix of activity tyes, lenty of hands on (January 2020 - Primary School)




(November 2019 - Primary School)




(October 2019 - Primary School)




Excellent knowledge shown and pupils thoroughly enjoyed (September 2019 - Secondary School)




Always an excellent trip (June 2019 - Primary School)




(June 2019 - Primary School)




(June 2019 - Primary School)




(April 2019 - Primary School)




Great day, accommodated us by opening the cafe due to poor weather, education session wasn't very specific but more general. Some good artifacts for the children to look at and touch. (April 2019 - Primary School)




Already done this! (March 2019 - Secondary School)




(March 2019 - Primary School)




(January 2019 - Primary School)




Fantastic customer care (November 2018 - Primary School)




1. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and were able to answer the children's questions. 2. The workshops were very engaging and the children were very impressed that they were able to touch real animals. 3. The park is clean and safe with lots of activities for the children to complete as they are walking around. (November 2018 - Primary School)




(November 2018 - Primary School)




(November 2018 - Primary School)




This was a very successful trip - the children learnt a huge amount about a range of animals and their habitats. A fantastic starter for our topic work this term which has certainly inspired the children. (October 2018 - Primary School)




(July 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(June 2018 - Primary School)




(April 2018 - Primary School)




We did not allow our children to go in the playgrounds which kept the focus on the animals. Workshops were good. (January 2018 - Primary School)




(January 2018 - Primary School)




Contact

Drusillas Park
Alfriston
Polegate
England
BN26 5QS
LOtC

Pricing

School / Education Prices (Term Time only)
Primary / SEN / Pre-School - £7.99 entrance per child (£6.99 Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec)
Education session - £1 per child
Secondary / Post-16 - £11.50 including session
Free adult ratio - 1:6 Primary, 1:5 Reception, 1:3 Pre-school, 1:10 Secondary / Post-16
SEN schools - 1:3 (we're flexible with this, can be 1:1 - contact us with your requirements)

Opening Times

1000 - 1800 (summer)
1000 - 1700 (winter)

No Ordinary Zoo!

Description

Drusillas Park contains over 70 species of animal including monkeys, penguins, meerkats, otters, flamingos, owls, red pandas and anteaters, plus a walk through lemur, rainbow lorikeet and bat/sloth enclosures. There are also many educational interactives such as the Zoolympics Challenges and Animal Spotter Trail with free booklets.

The Education Department offers a wide variety of hands-on and interactive primary education sessions including Animal Encounters, Habitats & Adaptations, Rainforests, Fur, Feathers & Scales (Classification), Minibeasts, Conservation, Animal Care and Maasai Life. Most sessions involve animal encounters and use animal artefacts (e.g. tusks, shells and furs) on loan from HM Revenue and Customs.

Once the learning is done children can let off steam in the indoor and outdoor adventure play areas and take a ride on our Safari Express train. There is also Hello Kitty Secret Garden which includes three rides, and our Rainforest Carousel, Flying Cheetahs and Hippopotabus rides.

For older students talk and tours are provided, so students can learn about Drusillas as a successful zoo and visitor attraction. Topics offered range from Marketing, Customer Service and Business Studies to Conservation, Animal Care and Animal Behaviour.

Schools gain large discounts on regular entry prices and free teacher preliminary visits are available.
With all this and much, much more you’ll experience the most fun-funding-out day-out you can imagine!

Pricing

School / Education Prices (Term Time only)
Primary / SEN / Pre-School - £7.99 entrance per child (£6.99 Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec)
Education session - £1 per child
Secondary / Post-16 - £11.50 including session
Free adult ratio - 1:6 Primary, 1:5 Reception, 1:3 Pre-school, 1:10 Secondary / Post-16
SEN schools - 1:3 (we're flexible with this, can be 1:1 - contact us with your requirements)

Opening Times

1000 - 1800 (summer)
1000 - 1700 (winter)

Contact

Drusillas Park
Alfriston
Polegate
England
BN26 5QS
LOtC

Reviews

The following reviews have been added by visit leaders using the EVOLVE system.
Overview
4.7
61 reviews


Excellent
 
75%

Very Good
 
23%

Average
 
2%

Poor
 
0%

Awful
 
0%

April 2024 - Primary School
Drusillas was brilliant - there were lots of animals, and it was all very applicable to the science we have been covering during the spring term of Year 5. The activity session was very good - the person leading the session was engaging and had interesting information and activities for the children to do. However, after the children had gone round the zoo there was little else left for them to do.



March 2024 - Primary School




March 2024 - Primary School




January 2024 - Primary School




January 2024 - Primary School
Although the children enjoyed an exciting visit, our staff felt that the talk delivered (which had been paid extra for) did not cover the expected Y1 Science criteria.



November 2023 - Primary School




August 2023 - Secondary School
Visited as part of the sixthform level 3 animal care course.



June 2023 - Secondary School




April 2023 - Primary School




March 2023 - Primary School




March 2023 - Primary School




March 2023 - Primary School




February 2023 - Primary School




December 2022 - Primary School




October 2022 - Secondary School




July 2022 - Primary School




July 2022 - Primary School
Great workshops



July 2022 - Secondary School
We visited as part of a general enrichment programme and Drusillas was very accommodating delivering talks on conservation and animal care.



June 2022 - Primary School
The staff at Drusillas were fantastic. All the paperwork was completed via email and promptly. The park itself was clean, organised, welcoming and the information for children to see read touch and interact with was second to none.



April 2022 - Primary School
The children had a lovely day learning about the different rainforest animals. The rainforest workshop was very informative too.



March 2022 - Secondary School
Really helpful communication right the way through the process from initial enquiry to post visit resources. Staff were well prepared for us and met us on arrival, ensured we were well looked after throughout.



March 2022 - Secondary School
Really helpful communication right the way through the process from initial enquiry to post visit resources. Staff were well prepared for us and met us on arrival, ensured we were well looked after throughout.



March 2022 - Primary School
Knowledgeable guide. Hands on experience in guided sessions were enjoyable by the children.



March 2022 - Primary School




November 2021 - Primary School
From arrival to departure Drusillas and particularly James were brilliant at working with the children and accommodating our needs - I would strongly recommend people visit here with their children.



November 2021 - Primary School
Engaging, interactive learning opportunities in a safe environment.



November 2021 - Secondary School




September 2021 - Primary School




July 2021 - Primary School




June 2021 - Secondary School
Excellent talks for the students tailored to specific needs. JAmes Woodward has been at the park over 18 years so is able to show how and why the business has adapted. Covid secure venue



June 2021 - Primary School
Drusillas had all necessary Covid-19 procedures in place. We were greeted upon arrival by the education officer who clarified our booking details. The education sessions were purposeful and appropriate for the age of the children and were still hands on and covid safe.



May 2021 - Primary School




February 2020 - Primary School
Excellent venue and good quality workshops. Some elements of workshops could have been more active.



January 2020 - Primary School
lenty to kee the children occuied. a mix of activity tyes, lenty of hands on



November 2019 - Primary School




October 2019 - Primary School




September 2019 - Secondary School
Excellent knowledge shown and pupils thoroughly enjoyed



June 2019 - Primary School
Always an excellent trip



June 2019 - Primary School




June 2019 - Primary School




April 2019 - Primary School




April 2019 - Primary School
Great day, accommodated us by opening the cafe due to poor weather, education session wasn't very specific but more general. Some good artifacts for the children to look at and touch.



March 2019 - Secondary School
Already done this!



March 2019 - Primary School




January 2019 - Primary School




November 2018 - Primary School
Fantastic customer care



November 2018 - Primary School
1. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and were able to answer the children's questions. 2. The workshops were very engaging and the children were very impressed that they were able to touch real animals. 3. The park is clean and safe with lots of activities for the children to complete as they are walking around.



November 2018 - Primary School




November 2018 - Primary School




October 2018 - Primary School
This was a very successful trip - the children learnt a huge amount about a range of animals and their habitats. A fantastic starter for our topic work this term which has certainly inspired the children.



July 2018 - Primary School




June 2018 - Primary School




June 2018




June 2018 - Primary School




June 2018 - Primary School




June 2018 - Primary School




June 2018 - Primary School




June 2018 - Primary School




April 2018 - Primary School




January 2018 - Primary School
We did not allow our children to go in the playgrounds which kept the focus on the animals. Workshops were good.



January 2018 - Primary School