Talk:Whipsnade Zoo
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Is a statement of the entry fee really a "point of view"? Brequinda 20:18, 28 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Not everything in Wikipedia needs to be a POV, it just needs to have a Neutral POV Rojomoke 15:12, 16 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Proposed move to "Whipsnade Zoo"
Someone renamed this article as "ZSL Whipsnade Zoo", but the change was reverted because it is Wikipedia policy to use the common name of the subject.
Before the official name of the zoo was changed to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park it was commonly known as Whipsnade Zoo. In fact this name is still as common according to Google hits: 60100 for Whipsnade Zoo (including 19600 for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo), 44300 for Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, 289 for Whipsnade Park Zoo, 131 for Whipsnade Zoological Park, and 4160 for Whipsnade Wildlife Park. I think it is bound to become increasingly common, and only time will tell whether the ZSL prefix catches on. Therefore, unless there are ojections before Friday, I intend to rename the article as "Whipsnade Zoo".
I was amused by the following editorial in the Dunstable Gazette (7 March 2007, page 12).
JonH 13:46, 8 May 2007 (UTC)
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"Not wild about this change" A particular bugbear of the editor's in-tray is the chiding letter from an organisation's marketing department asking us to kindly use the correct and expensively created name for the body they serve. London Luton Airport would wish us to use that full title, even though nobody in the area calls it that. The Mall is now the technically correct name for the shopping centre in the middle of Luton, even though both customers and staff still universally refer to it as the Arndale. Few organisations who rebrand themselves in this manner ever get their way, but one such – until Thursday – was Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. For years they pleaded that they were no longer a nasty old zoo full of captive animals, but a lovely airy wild animal park. Finally it caught on. But now the top tourist attraction has had a rethink and come up with a brand new name. Please refer to it from now on as...you've guessed it, Whipsnade Zoo. Or rather ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, if you would be so kind, to recognise the crucial involvement of the Zoological Society of London. Apart from dropping them a bit further down the phone book and causing more work for signwriters and marketing experts bent on reminding us of the new name, can we ask: What on earth is the point? |
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No objections received. This move can only be done by an administrator, so I have left a request at Wikipedia:Requested moves. JonH 13:17, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
It was a pointless name change in all, quite right that nobody acknowledges the change, it is still refered to by us, the staff, as 'the zoo'. It even still has the same damn sign above the gates and the park entrance. Freaky_dragonlady —Preceding unsigned comment added by Freaky dragonlady (talk • contribs) 18:52, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Visiting ZSL
Anyone thinking of visiting this very impressive attraction should try to avoid Dunstable town centre which is a nightmare to negotiate. In particular if you approach from the north on the A5 I suggest you take the first right at the major traffic light junction rather than following the brown sign. This avoids all the pedestrian crossings which disrupt the traffic flow and it is no further and certainly quicker. Of course you have to take a left at the next major junction to rejoin your route.
Visitors can also stop by Dunstable Downs to watch kite flying and gliders.
F_DL *As yes, if visiting the zoo make sure to visit the Tree Cathedral in Whipsnade *village (leave the zoo and turn right, and the left turn 'Tree Catherdral' sign *will be around the second bend) and make sure to visit the kite spot.
- To reach the kite flying and glider viweing spot, leaving the zoo turn right and *continue to a small roundabout just outside Whipsnade village. Turn left and *after a minute or two of foresty country road you will face the beautiful view *of the aylesbury plains below, and parking is the first and second left roads *off.
- Though I do wish to complain about the kite spot, if any locals are on wiki.
- Only a year or two ago the kite spot was a large area of the chilterns wonderful *for kites, with parking and a small hut to buy icecreams, toys, wildlife books *and kites. Then the Dunstable Council and the Wildlife Trust put up pay machines *in the shabby car parks, tore down the old building and put up a big greenhouse
- (it looks like a greenhouse and in the morning it's blinding if you're driving) *with its own car parks (with pay machines). The inside contains an expansive *cafe and overpriced nick-nacks you could buy at any day-out place.
- Rip-off.
- My whinge is over. Freaky_dragonlady
81.86.144.210 15:15, 5 September 2007 (UTC) 5th Sept 07
