Dads will go free at the iconic Spinnaker Tower this coming Father's Day (Sunday 15 June) as the attraction opens up its doors to encourage Fathers to make the most of their special day by enjoying an unforgettable experience.
 
Soaring high above the glittering Portsmouth harbour, the Spinnaker Tower is the South Coast's must-see 170m tall viewing tower with spectacular 350º panoramic vistas. It offers the perfect opportunity for Dads to wind down and relax whilst taking in the amazing views. And with the new addition of the audio guide, available in both adults' and children's versions, the whole family can learn about the unique history of the area this Father's Day, including tales of battles and warships galore!
 
So why not bring your Dad along for a fantastic day out where you can dare him to 'walk on air' over Europe's largest glass floor! All Fathers get a free visit to the Spinnaker Tower on Father's Day with at least one full paying son or daughter (child or adult), so there's no excuse not to give him the kind of day he deserves!*
 
*Please note there is a maximum of one dad per full paying child.
 
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!

Marwell Zoological Park, near Winchester, will be enthralling children this May half term (Monday 26 – Friday 30 April) with stories about the mysterious and bizarre animals from Australia.
 
Capturing children’s attention as they listen to the dilemmas Australian animals face and their struggle for survival, the FREE story telling sessions will be brought to life by Marwell’s intrepid animal experts and will also include fun colouring in activities.
 
The fascinating and exciting tales will enthral children as they find out about Little Roo, a lovely kangaroo, and if she will ever take her first hoppity-hop into the big wide world. Listen to the story of a wombat with attitude, or find out about a greedy frog that drank all the water in the world. Jessica Dolan, Education Coordinator at Marwell believes that the Park offers the ideal day out this May half term: “Our storytelling sessions are always very popular and children will love listening to these enchanting tales from the world of Oz. As they will be taking place through-out the afternoon families can choose to watch our very own Australian animals in action before or after listening to the stories.”
 
The storytelling sessions are FREE for visitors who have paid to enter the Park. The sessions will take place in the Park’s Education Centre from Monday 26th to Friday 30th May at 2.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.00pm and are subject to capacity. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
 
The Australian story telling sessions mark the first anniversary of the opening of the conservation charities’ Bush Walk and Australian area of the Park. With kangaroos, kookaburras, wallabies and baby ‘joeys’ galore – including a very special albino wallaby – as well as an Australian monitor lizard, a carpet python, emus and Australian black swans, there are plenty of Australian animals to see.
 
Other highlights for May half term include:

Follow the Amphibian Trail to find out about some of the world’s most endangered animals and discover which amphibian lies behind the trail. Pick up a FREE trail at the Park’s Information Kiosk.
 
Discover the secrets of animal life and meet Marwell’s animal keepers. Keeper talks are located by the animal’s enclosure at the following times:
10:30am: Giraffe
11:15am: Grevy’s Zebra / Scimitar-Horned Oryx
11:45am: Okapi
12:30pm: Lemurs
14:00 pm: Encounter Village Barn
14:30 pm: Meerkats
15:00 pm: Rhino
15:30 pm: Penguins

 For more information www.marwell.org.uk

Marwell Zoological Park, near Winchester, is delighted to announce the recent birth of two meerkat kittens. Affectionately known as ‘kits’ by Marwell keepers they made their appearance known on the 24th March when they first made calls and squeaks whilst still underground in their den.
 
Meerkats are very sociable animals and live in large family groups. Originally from the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa they love to sit out in the sun. An adult will famously stay on ‘look out’ often sitting tall on a high rock to watch over the family. At Marwell, the three adults share this responsibility and keep watch on a 4ft rock mound so that they can observe the surrounding area just as they would in the wild.
 
Young meerkats do not venture out of their den until a few weeks after their birth as Marwell’s meerkat keeper Sam Compton explains: “When the kits are young they stay in their burrow with a parent or babysitter. They are allowed onto the surface when they are old enough to dig, search for food with the adults, and most importantly able to make a quick dash back to the burrow in case a predator appears.”
 
“Born to mum Sharon and Dad Chico, the kits also live with another female, Pepper, who helps out with babysitting duties. The pair are doing well and visitors can now watch the kits as they play and groom each other. They are sun lovers so the lovely weather we have been having recently is perfect for them.”
 
If you are wild about meerkats, Chico is available to adopt through Marwell’s Go Wild junior and general adoption schemes. The money from every adoption helps to care for and feed the animals at Marwell.  Available from just £25, the adoption pack contains lots of benefits including a free ticket for entry into Marwell to see Chico as well as the adopter’s name on a plaque for visitors to see. To adopt Chico go to www.marwell.org.uk or call the Adoption Office on 01962 777988
 
Marwell Zoological Park is open daily from 10am.

The Spinnaker Tower is set to play host to a special reunion of attendees to the 1939 FA Cup final match between Pompey and Wolves. A reunion with a difference however, as the attendees are yet to meet each other!
 
Amongst the attendees are John Jenkins, the Boardroom Steward at Fratton Park, who has his original ticket, as well as Vera Warden, a great-grandmother who has passed her devotion to Pompey FC down to her grandsons. The group will also include: Phillip Hinks, who remembers that in 1939 Wolves were such odds on favourites that the bookies refused to accept bets on them and then Pompey won 4-1. He has hand written match details from when the club was formed back to its Southern League days up to the present day; also John Edwards, who had his photo taken at the match which appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph (he is bringing a copy of the photo); as well as David Morey, who was 8 years old and went with his father by train - afterwards they made a scrap book which he is bringing with him.
 
All the reunion guests will be given a VIP champagne reception on View Deck One and have the opportunity to meet each other and chat about their unique experiences of the fateful game nearly 70 years ago, and their hopes for the forthcoming FA Cup final. After soaking up the bubbly and the spectacular views at the top of the Tower, they will be taken back down to earth and treated to lunch in the waterfront Café Bar.
 
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!