Coronavirus: Drusillas Park open with measures in place

Popular attraction Drusillas Park is to stay open but with limited services due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it has been announced.
Drusillas Park will remain open but with limited services, it has been announcedDrusillas Park will remain open but with limited services, it has been announced
Drusillas Park will remain open but with limited services, it has been announced

In a statement, managing director Laurence Smith said measures will be put in place from today (Wednesday, March 18) with policies to ‘adapt and evolve’ as the situation changes.

The zoo, walk-through enclosures, play areas and rides of the attraction, near Alfriston, will be open but retail and catering outlets, other than its Mungo’s Trading Post, Explorers Café and Amazon Adventure, will close, he said.

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Keeper talks at feeding times will stop but it will still run its close encounter and keeper for the day experiences ‘for the moment’ and its new attraction Jurassic Jungle is due to be open from Saturday (March 21).

In the statement, Mr Smith said: “The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff is our absolute priority and we are taking necessary precautions to ensure their continued welfare.

“As with many businesses, we are actively monitoring the situation with regards to the outbreak of Covid-19 coronavirus and are reviewing and following the guidelines of Public Health England.

“Drusillas Park remains open, but not quite as usual.”

Given its limited services, he said that the attraction is to charge half-price entry at the gate from today and visitors will receive help should they need to rearrange bookings, or in the event that the attraction is closed.

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In the event of a closure, memberships would also be extended.

Mr Smith said: “We are taking each day as it comes so we advise against booking tickets online and only purchasing tickets at the gate. We cannot offer half price tickets online currently, so please be aware if you do decide to book online these will not be at a discounted rate.

“We have had many questions from our Annual Members about their Membership. In the event we have to close, we will extend your membership for the number of days or weeks we are shut. If your renewal period is coming up in the next few weeks, we will also honour the renewal discount for as long as we are operating under these restricted measures.

“We’ve been rigorously following the advice and recommendations of Public Health England and the World Health Organisation over the past few weeks. We have stepped up our already high standards of cleaning, particularly targeting contact points and we are ensuring all staff wash or sanitise their hands even more frequently than usual. You can also find sanitisers and hand soap readily available around the Park.

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“We will be keeping Explorers Café open but distancing the tables to allow you all an extra degree of separation. We will continue to do our best to keep you smiling and provide respite from anxieties. We will adapt and evolve our policies as the situation changes.”