It's hard to believe that a plot of boggy land that's now home to graffitied walls, dilapidated enclosures and roofless buildings once housed one of Wales' most popular tourist attractions. But over the course of almost three decades, Penscynor Wildlife Park welcomed huge crowds keen to feast their eyes on a variety of animals - from snakes to sea-lions, meerkats to monkeys, as well as penguins without ever having to leave the region.
At the height of its popularity, it would attract some 250,000 visitors a year and drew people from across south Wales and beyond from its opening in 1971 right up until its closure in 1998.
The demise of the venue, which had been a staple location for school trips year-after-year, was hugely felt by people across Wales but none more so than its devastated owner. Welshman Jon Quant had spent years revitalising the wildlife park, which began as a private collection of birds that Mr Quant's grandfather Idris Hale had first put together.
As the collection began to increase, they looked to take on more land- so when the semi-derelict Penscynor House and its 12 acres of land went up for sale in Cilfrew in the Neath valley, Idris bought it so he'd have somewhere to keep his birds and aviaries. Eventually, the family named the house and gardens Penscynor Bird Gardens and began allowing members of the public to visit.
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“My grandmother never wanted to move,” Jon Quant told us previously. "It took my grandfather a few years to persuade her, and it was in the mid-sixties that they eventually moved there. Then what started happening was my grandfather would come home from work, and there would be people waiting at the gate, asking if they could come in to have a look at his birds.
“He would show them around, but it started happening more and more, so he decided he would open it up for a few days to raise money for charity, and my grandmother Mair would bake apple tarts for the visitors.”
In the following years, the family began to take-on other animals and whilst other children his age spent evenings and weekends doing their homework or playing out in the street, Jon spent his looking after monkeys.
“It was an incredible upbringing,” said Jon. “I spent all my weekends and school holidays in the park. Any time I was not in school I would be there. It was a fantastic experience. I was given responsibilities beyond what was usual for children of my age.
“When I was 12, it was up to me to look after the marmosets and Tamarins, including the Golden Lion Tamarins, which are on the endangered list. “My sister, Amanda, who is two years younger than me, also had her own responsibilities and from 12 onwards my friends would become involved. It was incredible. There’s not many people who could say to their friends ‘do you want to come back to mine to see my penguins’?”
In the mid 1970s, the wildlife park became home to two rescued chimpanzees - among the most popular residents at Penscynor - and it soon welcomed sea lions, snakes and meerkats, with more and more visitors flocking to the site to see them.
Visitor numbers continued to grow in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, but by the 1990s it became clear that the wildlife park was no-longer in a strong financial position
"In February 1996 we held a meeting. The park had made a loss for the previous ten years, and the costs were growing," said Jon. "We had increasing numbers of birds and animals and something needed to be done, because otherwise it would become unsustainable. It was decided I would take it over, and initially we got the losses down from £100,000 to £7,000.
"In 1998, it was predicted we would finally make a profit, of around £50,000. But because of the weather, by May in 1998 that predicted profit turned into a £150,000 loss.. The ideal weather for the park was dry and overcast. If it was sunny, people would go to the beach or if it was wet they would go to leisure centres or the cinema. The decision was one of mixed emotions. As a business decision, it was absolutely the right thing to do for the family - but personally it was difficult. It was a place where I had grown up, and it had given me an incredible childhood."
In 1998, the park closed down, with its birds and animals relocated to new homes across the UK, whilst its chimps were moved to the nearby Cefn yr Erw monkey sanctuary in the Brecon Beacons. Part of the Wildlife Park was knocked down some years ago, with residential housing built on top, but the rest remains derelict and deserted - but people's memories of fantastic days out at the Park live on.
We recently asked our readers for their favourite memories of days out to Penscynor Wildlife Park - here's what they had to say:
'A chimp escaped its enclosure and grabbed my leg'
One of our readers, Gaynor Mills recalls the baby chimps abusing some rabbits - and one chimp managing to escape its enclosure and make a run for it. "[I remember] the baby chimps punching rabbits on the lawn. One chimp ran around and grabbed my leg, I was delighted," she said. "When I went as an adult and walked near the chimp house I heard a keeper shout: 'Oi you, get back in here' - a large chimp was quickly scuttling back to the window it climbed out from!"
Fellow reader Suzie Badcock said: "I use to love it there, especially Bobby the chimp!" while Lorain Tomos remembers a chimp "pinching my son's ice cream!"
Sharing a lovely photo of a young boy cuddling a baby chimp on our social media page, fellow reader Dave Reynolds recalled: "Not on a school trip, it was a Sunday and we went to the chimp's tea party. Guess which one is me?"
'I used to nod to the pelican and he'd nod back'
Mary Lynne Lewis recalls being on "nodding terms" with the pelican at the Wildlife Park! "I was on nodding terms with the pelican there, we went there so often with the school kids. It was fab," she said.
But unfortunately, fellow reader Melanie Allen remembers when she was less-than-impressed with the creature. "I went there on a school trip and crossing a small bridge a pelican stole my ice-cream out of my hand," she said. "I will never forget that as it frightened the life out of me and I was so upset I'd lost my ice-cream!"
Several other readers remember seeing a pelican named Percy. "You had to clap your hands for him to go away" said Marilyn Hobbs. "What was the name of the friendly pelican who would come up close to you?" asked Brian Pugh. "Percy the Pelican," said Terry Davies.
'I remember visiting my rabbits there'
The Wildlife Park had a special place in some people's hearts as it cared for animals they were no longer able to. Sally Dallimore said: "I loved it there! They took our rabbits for us as they grew so big and were eating their way out of their hutch all the time! It was fab as we could see them thrive there after giving them up."
'I had amazing days out there'
Dozens of our readers told us they can remember epic family days out and awesome school trips to the Park - and loads more said they wish the park was still open so that they could take their children and grandchildren there now.
Pauline Smith said: "Took my granddaughter there when she was little, great day out and not too far to travel - shame it shut." Andrew Dale said: "Took my son, was always a good day out, shame it's gone!" and Julie Heard said: "I went with my parents, was fascinated by the humming birds!"
"Loved this place, many happy memories there - sad times when it closed," said Nicola Powell. "Love it there, went many times, such a shame it's gone, would have liked to have taken my grandchildren there to enjoy it," Julie Edwards added.
Sharing her favourite memories, reader Joan Berry said: "Took my two children there in late 1980s, a peacock dropped a tail feather in front of him and the sled run was a big hit!" while Helen Oldham recalled: "I remember the peacocks, spent all my allotted spending money on a painted pebble for my mum, she was really touched and has kept it, over 40 years ago!"
'It was the highlight of my Christmas'
Natalie Mitchell remembers visiting Santa at the Wildlife Park at Christmastime. "I used to love seeing Santa and his reindeer, this was the highlight to our Xmas," she said. "He remembered my name from one year to the next - my mum swears blind she doesn't know who he was," added Sean Baird.
"So loved this place," added Alison Gregory on the Neath Port Talbot Online Facebook page. "It was a Boxing Day tradition to visit, so miss it. My eldest three knew it but not my youngest three, so wish it was still here."
'Kids were allowed to hold some of the animals'
Susan Rogers says she remembers visiting with her daughter regularly - the best bit of their day was when she was allowed to hold some of the animals. "Took my daughter there regularly!" she said. "Lovely place, kids were taught about some of the animals, allowed to hold some: snakes, spiders, cockroaches, and plenty of informative signs about the various animals! Lovely day out, such a shame it closed."
Beverely Phillips added: "I remember taking my son there when he was young - he wanted to hold the snakes! My husband had to take him into the reptile house as I am petrified of snakes and I still am!"
'Loved the car sticker'
An iconic piece of merchandise: the Penscynor car sticker was a popular addition to cars across South Wales. Alex Weeks said: "Great place to visit, loved the car sticker too!" and Andrew Evans recalled: "Went as a child - I read the name and automatically thought of a pink flamingo car sticker!"
"Those car stickers were spotted all over the UK!" added Howard Stephens.
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