Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.

Mr and Mrs Heyworth. Cotswold Wildlife Park was the brainchild of one man, John Heyworth (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park)

It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.

A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.

Keepers moving a 19-foot-long Anaconda in 1971 (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park)

“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”

From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.

A fearless Grévy’s Zebra chasing Bull – the park’s original male Rhino (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park)

George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.

To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.

The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.

The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.

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She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.

Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.

Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.

Katherine Payne performing with The Wantage Orchestra (Image: Polly Biswas Gladwin)

At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.

Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval

One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.

“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”

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Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.

“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all.  Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”

The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.

Originally scheduled to close on April 10, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will now remain open until May 31.

The decision marks 300 years since the death of Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Heather Carter, managing director of the visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace, said: “Blueprints of Power has sparked remarkable momentum, opening conversations across generations.

“The response has been excellent, so we’re pleased to be extending the exhibition to give visitors more time to explore Sir John Vanburgh’s remarkable life.

“From his architectural brilliance to his larger-than-life character, never-before-seen items, interactive experiences and an immersive finale in the Long Library make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture fans and anyone curious about the fascinating story behind Blenheim Palace.”

The exhibition offers an immersive journey through Vanbrugh’s diverse career, from playwright to architect, and sheds light on his complex relationship with the First Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill.

Visitors begin in the Great Hall, where models, plans, and letters introduce Vanbrugh’s work, before moving through other rooms that explore his influences and connections.

A highlight of the exhibition is the finale in the Long Library, featuring a projection experience with light, sound, and motion.

This segment tells the story of Blenheim Palace’s construction.

Admission to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.