Visitors to pay £1 fee for touch of Tropics

Calderdale Council says it is introducing the entrance fee of £1 to the Jungle Experience at Manor Heath Park because of cuts in funding. Children under the age of five years old will continue to be allowed to enter free of charge.

The Jungle Experience has been free to enter since it opened in 1998.

The fee will go towards maintaining the building, taking care of the plants and animals and investing in more features at the attraction, which holds tropical plants from across the world, a tropical butterfly section and a garden with fish, terrapin and tropical lilies.

There is also a newly planted oasis area.

Robin Tuddenham, Calderdale Council’s director for safer and stronger communities, said: “The Jungle Experience is a unique feature we have in Halifax and this small charge will help us to maintain and continue to improve it.

“I hope people will support the Jungle Experience by continuing to come see the variety of different plants and animals we have on display.”

Entrance to the 19-acre park and walled garden will remain free.

Elsewhere in Calderdale, the Victoria Theatre in Halifax has introduced a “theatre support fee” of £1 per ticket to help it to maintain and improve the facility.

The results from a 2010 survey showed that more than 90 per cent of visitors were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the Victoria Theatre.

According to Calderdale Council the best way to preserve this is by introducing a theatre support fee.

Mr Tuddenham said: “The Victoria Theatre is a large part of Halifax’s history and we want it to be a part of its future.

“This decision is not one that we have taken lightly and we urge people to support the theatre by continuing to come see the fantastic shows on offer.”

Details of shows are available at www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria.