One of Devon's most popular visitor attractions has opened up a brand new play area designed specifically for the very smallest members of the family. Babies will now have their own dedicated soft play area at Paignton Zoo.
On January 20, Paignton Zoo extended its Jungle Fun soft play to welcome a dedicated area for children from 0 to 12 months old. The much-loved feature of the zoo was previously for children up to 10 years old, with a specific area for under twos.
It has now been divided into play zones for different age groups, including 0 to 12 months, one to three years, two to six years and five to 10 years. Situated within the heart of the zoo, it features a range of play options, including interactive panels and giant slides.
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The new area for babies is part of a "mini" refurbishment to Jungle Fun. The renovations took place during Paignton Zoo's closure from January 8 to 19 and were unveiled on their first day back.
Eve Thompson, Visitor Experience supervisor, said: "We’re delighted to finally be able to offer something for the very little ones. Infants under 12 months old will now have their own, age-appropriate area to play safely in."
The opening of the baby area coincided with the zoo's collaboration with CBeebies' Bing and Flop. This will include a range of story time sessions, a meet and greet and an activity trail from January 24 until February 16.
Paignton Zoo has also announced that they will be introducing an admission fee for the soft play, which they say will allow them to continue upgrading Jungle Fun. It will now be £2 per child for non-members, while it will remain free for members. Annual membership is £64 for adults and £44.75 for children aged three to 15, while off-peak membership is £45 for adults and £35 for children. They also offer concessions and family offers.
Visitor Experience manager, Mandy Plester, said: "We know how popular Jungle Fun is with our visitors, and by charging a very small fee for non-members of only £2 per child, we will be able to raise the funds to continue upgrading Jungle Fun. We have some really exciting plans for the soft play area that we just know the public are going to love."
