Home for the Winter

November signals the end of the Visitor 'season' at The Butterfly and Wildlife Park. So off we went to collect their porcine attractions - Curly, Duchess, Bubbles and Philip -and bring them home to Rectory Reserve for the winter.

We found them looking extremely woolly, healthy and inquisitive! Originally the plan had been to bring them back early in the New Year but they scuppered that. As seems to be the habit with our Curly Coats, they decided one day to trash their fence and go in search of adventure with the Water Buffalo, Llama and other residents! It was just a few days after the visitors stopped so maybe they were just a bit bored and went to find out where everyone had gone to! So that earned them an early ticket home before their nosiness led them into serious trouble.

Their 'Boss at Butterfly' was rather sad to see them go -as was the Water Buffalo who came over to watch their departure!

They'd been a great hit with their public; rushing to and fro to speak to as many visitors as possible, trashing their pen in true JCB fashion and charging so enthusiastically up to one of their 'volunteer helpers' that she was literally bowled over! Overpowered by a posse of pigs - what an adventure!! Such lively antics put them at No. 3 in the 'hit parade' - behind the Butterflies and the Birds of Prey! Next year's intake will be given flying lessons before they leave Rectory Reserve then we'll see who's No.1 !

Anyway, they were very good to load up into their limousine having taken a very keen interest in their 'B-at-B's attempts to raise a rampart! By the looks on their faces, they would have been only too delighted to lend a trotter or three......

Once in they settled quietly for the journey and, on arriving home, tucked into a healthy fruit and veg. supper!

(And we haven't managed to work out yet which of the 4 is the Camera-shy piggie - probably Philip!!!?)