Animal Magic!

 

 

 

Between 1962 and 1983 avuncular Welshman Johnny Morris thrilled children and adults alike whilst presenting BBC One's 'Animal Magic'.   The show educated us on the wild kingdom, through a mix of facts and jovial voiceovers applied to various animals from Bristol Zoo (Bristol being the home of the BBC's Natural History unit).   Who could ever forget the show's regular, 'Dottie' the ring-tailed lemur!

 

After almost two decades Animal Magic was discontinued when it was judged that the programme's anthropomorphic animal treatment was no longer fashionable.  Sadly, in an incredible display of shortsightedness, many editions of the show were destroyed by the BBC in the early 1990s.

 

Ironically BBC One's 'Walk On The Wild Side', with its own brand of animal voiceovers, is just one of the latest examples of how animal magic never truly goes out of vogue.  Youtube is full of amusing talking animal videos, and an alarming number of screaming goats for that matter.

 

The educational animal magic has even rubbed off on children's channel CBeebies, where Andy Day gets up close and personal with all manner of critters, courtesy of the BBC's shrinking department, in 'Andy's Wild Adventures'  -  visit Mumsnet to see just how many bored housewives out there would like a wild adventure with Andy.  Of course the BBC first shrunk presenters and put them in harms way on, you guessed it, Animal Magic.

 

 

Horsford's own Animal Magic

 

In my village research and conversations I've several times heard mention of 'Horsford Zoo'.  This was a 1940s exotic collection of animals on land where the Hong Kong Chinese take-away now sits.  Apparently visitors from far afield, including Norwich, came to see unwanted, rescued zoo animals including parrots, lamas, monkeys and even a rickets-ridden lion!  The collection was a passionate hobby and there was no fee charged for viewing.

 

Modern Horsford retains its passion for the exotic.  Nearby Dog Lane still has quite a collection.  I've seen a pair of alpacas, a Shetland pony, ostriches, guinea fowl, reindeer (including an albino) and rheas  -  though not as big as the recent 6ft Hertfordshire escapee.  Go slightly further afield, down Haveringland Road, and you might even see a peacock and wallabies (again, one of them albino).

 

Our local bird rescue charity  'Wing and a Prayer', on Serpentine Lane, off Shortthorn Road, Stratton Strawless, have rheas of their own and all manner of other rescued birds.  They're not generally open to the public but their  annual open day fund raiser  is a great day out for kids and adults alike.

 

For a slideshow of Horsford's exotic wildlife, visit the Horsford Life Youtube channel: HERE.

 

Clearly Horsford has a rich history of the exotic . . and I'm not just referring to the belly dancing down Mill Lane.  But if you have your own memories of  'Horsford Zoo,'  or if you know of any other notable animals in the Horsford area, please be sure to  contact us!