Abandoned and reclaimed by nature - the beloved zoo closed forever after 27 years

Abandoned and reclaimed by nature - the beloved zoo closed forever after 27 years Penscynor Wildlife Park in Neath, south Wales, was a beloved family attraction for 27 years before closing its doors for good in 1998 - and the crumbling site has since been left to nature A cherished Welsh wildlife park that won over the hearts of its local community shut its gates permanently after an impressive 27-year run, and those lucky enough to have experienced it during its prime simply can't stop reminiscing about it. Penscynor Wildlife Park was formerly the premier destination for school excursions and treasured family outings, holding the unofficial crown as south Wales' essential attraction for visitors of all ages throughout numerous years. During its golden era, the park enjoyed such widespread recognition that its distinctive animal logo sticker appeared on the back window of virtually every vehicle on the streets. The emblem even featured on the CD sleeve of rock band Liberty 37's song When We Say. Amongst the locals of the Cilfrew park in Neath were sea lions, penguins, marmosets, numerous bird species, polecats, muntjac deer, snakes, meerkats and monkeys - and for countless Welsh grown-ups, simply hearing the park's name is sufficient to immediately transport them back to their youth, reports Wales Online. How the much-loved wildlife park began The beginnings of Penscynor Wildlife Park were almost completely unintentional. In 1966, Neath builder Idris Hale purchased the crumbling Penscynor House in Cilfrew. His profound love for wildlife had previously led him as far as Indonesia, and this lasting fascination quickly turned the sprawling 11-acre grounds into a sanctuary for a remarkable private collection of exotic parrots - with multiple charity fundraisers later arranged to meet public appetite to view the birds. By 1971, Idris had launched his wildlife park to visitors, with a high-profile opening fronted by beloved television personality Johnny Morris of Animal Magic fame helping to firmly establish its reputation. A spell of tremendous success ensued. The 1980s marked the genuine peak of Penscynor's success, fuelled by a thrilling new attraction - the alpine slide. The toboggan run was largely attributed to Idris' vision - guests would board a chairlift up the hillside, sit in a bucket seat, and then manage their own velocity on the way down before returning to the top to repeat the experience. The attraction demanded a substantial investment of £250,000 - an eye-watering figure for the era - yet it became so hugely successful that the expenditure was reportedly recovered within just 18 months of launching. The following significant phase arrived in March 1996, when Idris' grandson, Jonathan Hale-Quant, assumed ownership of the park. Speaking about the attraction, Jonathan told ITV Cymru Wales: "It started off in my grandfather's imagination. It was a ridiculous, impossible dream but one that he actually did create. There's no doubt that he was a visionary, with a touch of eccentricity thrown in for good measure." At its height, the site had 40 full-time staff members, increasing to 150 during the summer months, and with a quarter of a million visitors annually, it quickly became one of Wales' top three tourist attractions. Closure and what remains now The beloved wildlife park, which formed the setting for cherished memories across generations of Welsh families, met a devastating and sombre conclusion. Wales' famously unpredictable weather, declining visitor numbers and inadequate financial returns ultimately determined the fate of Penscynor Wildlife Park. Although Jonathan was widely recognised for revitalising the park, he eventually made the painful decision to close its doors permanently, telling BBC Wales Today: "It was borne out of one man's dream and commitment to the conservation and to education of future generations. But really if it's not paying for itself then it has to go. "It was difficult. You've got a lot of emotions, a lot of memories tied up." By 1998, the site had closed down completely with all operations ceasing, and its 174 animals were rehomed elsewhere. From 1999 onwards, the northern section of the park was transformed into 41 residential properties, and by 2005, Jonathan had listed Penscynor House for sale. Many of the enclosures remain standing today, decaying and overgrown, and the former wildlife park lies deserted, gradually being reclaimed by nature - yet it lives on remarkably vividly in the hearts and minds of those who visited. Abandoned but never forgotten Many Facebook groups and pages have been created in tribute to the once-bustling wildlife park, where former visitors regularly share their fondest memories of childhood trips. One Facebook user said: "Loved the place as a kid," while another fondly recalled, "always went here as a 70s kid." A former visitor to the wildlife park added: "Brill day out as a child, shame to see it like this." Another shared striking photographs of the now-abandoned site as it appears today and wrote on Facebook: "Abandoned Penscynor Wildlife Park closed in 1998! I imagine a lot of people have fond childhood memories of this place. Part of it has since been converted into housing, whilst the rest is 'left to rot' and taken over by Mother Nature." Meanwhile, someone else posted: "Some snaps of penscynor wildlife park, gone but not forgotten... found the old monkey house, nature slowly taking back its land." Fondly recalling the park's beloved logo sticker, one person said: "Every car in Wales had this sticker [of Penscynor Wildlife Park] on the back window." While another former visitor described it as their "favourite place as a child". One fondly recalled their "fond memories" from the attraction: "It was a great place to spend the day. Even the scary pelican which used to peck you as it roamed free and of course the Gibbons on their island." Meanwhile, a separate Facebook user who had explored the site in its present condition wrote: "Any one been for a walk at the Old Penscynor Wildlife Park? I recommend it to anyone, truly amazing, it's like walking through Jurassic Park the Lost World." Speaking openly about the park, Jonathan previously told WalesOnline: "I had a fantastic upbringing at the park. But it's been closed for more than 20 years now, and nature has reclaimed the park. I haven't been there for a long time. "There is a twinge of sadness when you see these photos of what it looks like now. When I close my eyes I can see it exactly as it was, and these pictures conflict with what is in my head." He went on to say: "I come from a close family, and I was glad that two of my daughters, who were aged five and eight, got to experience a year of the park while it was open. I wish my third daughter had the same opportunity. "It was an incredible way to grow up, and it taught me and my sister a massive amount about life."