Drusillas Zoo and the Rainforest Carousel

Our first visit to Drusillas zoo was in 2017. It was quickly decided that it is, hands down, our favourite family day out. You can imagine, as a large family with children ranging from under two to twelve years old, finding somewhere that offers something for everyone is hard and this is exactly why we love Drusillas. When an email popped into my Inbox inviting us to a press day to celebrate the opening of their new ride – The Rainforest Carousel, we were absolutely thrilled. Drusillas Zoo is still as wonderful today as it was when we first visited two years ago. Apart from the animals and a new ride, not a huge amount has changed. So for my comprehensive review of Drusillas please read my 2017 post here. Drusillas is a small zoo situated near Alfristen in East Sussex. It is about twenty minutes from Eastbourne and about and hour and a half from London. Luckily for us, it is a forty five minute journey through the beautiful Ashdown Forest. When I said Drusillas is a small zoo, that is their description, but personally I think that is an understatement. They have over one hundred species and the enclosures and exhibits are extremley well designed and looked after. Mikey and Charlie are huge fans of reptiles. Since Rango the Bearded Dragon and Victoria the Horsefield Tortoise joined our family last year. Now they spend their days on YouTube, watching various reptile experts. They teach them conservation and how to care for everything from Alligators to The Monitor (I know, I had never heard of one either…google it, I am not a fan!) So they were in their element as they walked through the snakes, iguanas and lizards, reading new facts about their favourite animals and teaching the rest of us what they already knew. Arthur and George, the youngest of our family were fascinated by every animal at Drusillas. All the enclosures and exhibits have been designed in such a way that small children can see freely without having to be lifted up to view the animals. The monkeys were their favourite, watching them play and tumble with each other was not unlike a Saturday morning in our house! After walking through the Lemur enclosure, stepping over them as they jumped right in our path, we headed to Lory Landing, the Rainbow Lorikeet enclosure. We purchased our £1 pot of nector and fed these beautiful, exotic birds. They were landing on our heads, arms and shoulders. They took a particular liking to Charlie who spent over half an hour bonding with them. Just when you think you may have seen everything, you enter the kids park. It is a playground that childrens dreams are made of. It includes a water zone, zip wires, climbing frames, trampolines and most importantly, a cafe that serves coffee! Once you leave the playground, you pass the picnic area which is surrounded by amusments, inflatable games and the park train. …….you are still not finished though! Hello Kitty Secret Garden and Go Wild are where your youngest children can have a taste of a theme park, with rides suitable for young children (Arthur, aged 22 months loved it). The Rainforest Carousel is a beautiful addition to park. Situated at the exit, it is the perfect way to finish your day at the zoo. Pick your animal, a cheetah? A dolphin Butterfly? Lizard? Tortoise? Climb on and enjoy a relaxing ride around The Rainforest. After a wonderful five hours spent at Drusillas, we were ready to head home. When you look in your rear view mirror and see all six children fast asleep, not even ten minutes into our journey home, you know everyone has had a great day. We were gifted entry tickets to Drusillas in return for a this post. More days out in South East include: Day out at Thorpe Park Day out at Godstone Farm Day Out at Leeds Castle Day out at The Imperial War Museum

Dear Mum, Happy Mothers Day

Dear Mum,
I am in bed with my coffee, enjoying my Mothers Day lay in, thinking about you. Reflecting on our relationship and how much it means to me. I love you mum xxxx

I would not be the mother I am today if it wasn’t for you. You have helped me, taught me and guided me without any judgement, just unconditional love.
Mum, do you remember when you took us fishing and told us YOU would empty the buckets because you didnt want us to fall in?
As you got close to the stream, you slipped and landed straight on your bum in the water….with your feet in the air because you didn’t want to ruin your new boots! We laughed about it for weeks.
Mum, do you remember when I went on PGL at primary school? I didn’t want to go because I would get to homesick. Dispite hating sending me away sad, you encouraged me and told the teachers you would drive to Wales if I really wanted to come home.

Mum, do you remember when I was fifteen, I got so drunk, you had to take me to hospital to have my stimach pumped?
You laid next to me all night until I woke up. I am so sorry.
Mum, do you remember on my 16th birthday, I had my first kiss with Mike? You were so excited for me and made sure you caught it on camera.
Mum, do you remember when I wanted to ask Mike out but was too embaressed? You rang him and pretended to be me! Thank you.
Mum, do you remember when I told you we were having twins? you were so happy and supportive, telling me how you had always wanted twins.
Mum, do you remember when we were in LA, checking into a motel? You walked out, refusing to stay there, saying the room smelt of sex! Dad and I were hysterically laughing. Turned out it was a ‘rent by the hour’ room!

Mum, thank you for everything, thank you for being there and loving me throughout my achievements and my dissapointments.

Thank you for being such an incredible Nana to by babies, thank you for always having our back and thank you for teaching me what a perfect mum is.
I only wish everyone had a mum like you.
I love you Mum,
Xxxxx
Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mums, dads, grandparents and Foster mums xx
Special Mothers Day love to anyone who doesn’t have their mum with them today xxxx