After a productive morning, students were led out on another brilliant excursion to the Cotswold Wildlife Park with their Programme Director, Bob Barnes, Junior Deans and Counsellors.
The park boasts over 260 different species of animals and is the largest privately owned zoological collection in the UK, set in 160 fantastic acres of British countryside. Starting with a train ride running the perimeter of the park, students were able to sneak glimpses of the animals they would soon see close-up. The first stop and high on the list of animals to see, was the extremely rare and endangered Red Panda, featured above. Towering heights were reached, as the Giraffe Gallery brought students level with the gigantic creatures, providing a truly unique opportunity to see the animal face to face! Squeamish screams echoed through the insect house as students peered tentatively at an array of creepy crawlies!
Later that evening, back in Oxford, students prepared to be horrified as they embarked on the chilling theatrical tour of Oxford’s Ghosts. A costumed guide entertained, guided and perturbed students through one of the most historically haunted cities in Britain. The tour stood on the very spot the last people were burnt alive at the stake in the 16th century; Archbishop Cranmer’s exact location of death is marked by a manhole cover, unchanged to this day! The tour guide perhaps exaggerated at times, claiming to have seen ghosts on numerous occasions walking down ‘Deadman’s Walk’ in Christ Church Meadow. Nonetheless, students were absorbed into the theatrical nature of the tour and left many chatting about the paranormal.
Students were noticeably excited at the prospect of the ‘Prehistoric’ themed mid-session party at St Catherine’s College the following evening. Stay tuned for updates!