By Jasmine Long
BT Promotions annual Junior Football Festival at Flamingo Land offers everything a young and sporty thrill seeker would want: exhilarating rides, exotic, wild animals, and the chance to win a gold cup for their local team. Not to mention a three-night stay in the campsite right next door!
Situated in North Yorkshire, Flamingo Land offers both an amusement park and a zoo, with a variety of rides and attractions for all ages. Adjacent to these fantastic amusements is the football pitch where girls aged 7 to fourteen completed their tournaments over the weekend, in the hopes of winning the gold championship cup for their team.
The festival itself is under the management of Tony Dixon and Barry Cook, who aim to provide a positive and rememberable experience for all girls involved.
Tony, who has organised these events for the past thirty years, said that as a football fan and festival manager, the all-girls tournaments are the most special to him.
‘It’s all about making memories. We don’t make them for you, the girls do.’
The tournaments are held between the hours of 9:30 and 12:00 on both the Saturday and Sunday mornings, with the rest of the day being free time to explore the park and attractions in all their glory.
For these young girls, there is a freedom to explore and have fun without parental supervision. Of course, this is ideal for parents who want to spend their afternoons and evenings at the on-site bars, or even trying out the rides for themselves.
Experience the thrill firsthand, as the rides and enjoyment of the weekend come to life:
This experience was like no other – but visuals only tell half the story.
Of course, football is only really 20% of the three-day trip. The zoo in particular can easily be a full day in itself, with around 140 species of animals to visit.
The zookeepers on site aim to create a relationship between people and nature by having information signs on every enclosure, as well as advertised feeding times, animal based activities, and free educational talks.
Ben Harris, a member of the education team within the zoo, said that enrichment building allows members of the public to help create enrichment that actually improves the animals’ welfare.
‘In cases such as our sea lion and bird displays, it is important that we are not just teaching our animals tricks, instead we are training them to display their natural behaviours. Like a sea lion porpoising out of the water to evade predators, or a barn owl flying silently to avoid detection.’
‘Extensive research goes into the design of our enclosures, and we prefer to use all natural materials if possible to better mimic an animal’s habitat. All animals have an off-show indoor area, which is kept at a temperature closer to their native home.’
He also said that the enclosures are modelled on that specific animals behaviours, such as those that climb trees or apparatus, as well as a large shallow lake for the hippos to sleep in.
‘Some species that are found in the same habitats in the wild are also kept together here, as this provides an added level of enrichment to the animal’s life. The most notable of these mixed-species exhibits would be our cheetah and white rhino shared paddock, as they’re known to not be aggressive towards one another.’
The zoos ‘SAVE Strategy’ encourages the protection and preservation of the environment involving four categories: site management, action for UK conservation, vested interest in worldwide conservation, and ex-situ conservation (human controlled environment). This ensures that the wildlife and animals (especially those that are endangered) are protected, as well as maintaining an exciting and fun experience for its visitors.
Experience the exotic and wild animals that are vulnerable to extinction first hand:
Although there is a definite excitement and adventure that comes alongside animals and rollercoasters, the awards ceremony for BT Promotions is the perfect ending to the perfect weekend.
Held in the function room at the back of ‘Zoo Bar,’ each team and their families see gold cups, trophies, and plaques to celebrate their winnings and hard work across the field. With recognition for every girl that plays, there are participation awards and group trophies to highlight their teamwork and performance, maintaining positivity.
One girl from each team even wins an award for Best Player,’ after being nominated by the BT Promotions very own ref.
A player who won this award (12) said, ‘I honestly didn’t even expect it to be me, I’m so shocked and happy.’
‘I thought it was going to be Isla [friend] or Ruby [friend]. I’m so made up I’ve won it.’
Each person feels a sense of accomplishment – even if their team didn’t win. Coming out of their comfort zone and working together is the real reward.
By Jasmine Long
