Letters to Santa

More youngsters than ever are requesting unicorns this Christmas – according to the letters to Santa at our grotto.

We are offering a train trip to a snow-covered winter wonderland as part of our festive celebrations and as well as meeting Father Christmas, youngsters can send a letter too.

Annual favourites such as Lego and Barbie are featuring as well as football shirts, drum kits, toy kitchens and cars as well as sensory toys and sweets

But Head of Operations Scott Ashman said: “It’s been surprising how many children are asking for unicorns as well as the more traditional toys that have been found under trees around the country for many years.

“As well as the expected request for toys, we have also seen Santa asked for gifts for parents and grandparents and that’s really touching to see children aren’t just asking for presents for themselves.”

Longleat was the first safari park to open outside Africa back in 1966 and there are more than 120 species calling it home, however, head of animal operations Darren Beasley confirms: “Sadly, we don’t have unicorns, but we do have rhinos, sometimes referred to as “Chubby unicorns”. We also have Scimitar-horned Oryx in the Safari Park, and some say the spiral appearance of their horn may have led to the belief in unicorns. They can be seen as part of the drive-through safari throughout the year.”