Highland Cow

Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre

Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, England Yorkshire

Recommendation added: 08/06/2008 06:57
By: yoyo (YSUK rating +19)

yoyo has been thanked 1 times for this contribution

"Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre, I was delighted when a friend took me to this little gem hidden away in Heckmondwike West Yorkshire. I couldn't believe the huge range of animals they have far better than anything similar I have visited in the past. We went on a late on a saturday afternoon it was warm sunny perfect for looking round.

This place is really child friendly with so much for them to see. We bought a bag of feed for 50p to feed the farm animals and it was a lovely experience seeing the animals so close. The farm animal include pigs, goats and sheep as well as rabbits.
But whats great about Pondarose is all other animals they keep. Its best to check the website as there is too many to mention but there were birds of prey which included a beautiful Kestrel and cute owls.

Also Meerkats which were just having there feed when we saw them first which happened to be baby chicks which I found a bit gross and perhaps might have been a bit upsetting for children to see but when we went back later they were playing around and were very cute I would have loved to have taken one home.

There was also a reptile house which we went to. I was slightly surprised they as we walk through part of the house in the tropical plants was what appeared to be sum kind of large lizards just wondering about which did make me feel slightly uneasy but I just stayed where it was and I am a bit of wimp. They had a snake out with a handler in one room and I was too scared to go in but its a great way to get kids interested in animals we saw them handling lots of animals so its great fun as well as they learning lots too they staff we were friendly and seem to enjoying sharing all there knowledge about the animals with everyone.

Also whats great is dotted around the site are many different play area's for the children with tonnes of climbing frames and slides for them.

There is a coffee shop serving cold sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, ice cream & refreshments. Disabled access. As well as plenty of picnic areas. there are toilets and a nice little gift shop.

There is so much to do make sure you allow yourself enough time to see everything. I recommend going on a dry day to get the most out of Pondarose.

Open from 10am - 4pm 7 days a week Monday through Sunday. We are open all year round only closing for Christmas and New Year. (Dates are confirmed nearer the time).

Admission 4.00 pounds adults 3.50 children under 2's are free

Getting there

From Manchester:

Come off the M62 at Junction 26 - turn right onto the A638 - Follow this road through Cleckheaton - Turn right at the clock tower in Heckmondwike centre. The centre is sign posted on the right. Turn down Station lane, under the railway bridge, past Al Murad tiles and we are the next left turn.

From Leeds:

Turn off M62 at Junction 27 (Showcase Cinema) and pick up the A62 towards Huddersfield. Through 6 sets of light and turn left into Heckmondwike centre - then turn right at the clock tower in Heckmondwike centre. The centre is sign posted on the right. Turn down Station lane, under the railway bridge, past Al Murad tiles and we are the next left turn.

Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre
Off Smithies Lane
Heckmondwike
WF16 0PN
Tel/Fax: 01924 235276"