Knowsley Safari will be closed on Sunday, October 25, as Storm Boelo brings strong winds and heavy rain to Merseyside. The attraction announced the temporary closure to ensure the safety of guests, animals, and staff during the storm.
Weather warning and closure details
A weather warning is active from 12pm today and will last until tomorrow at 9pm. Wind speeds could reach over 50mph in Liverpool for most of Sunday, according to the Met Office forecast.
Knowsley Safari, which features over 700 animals including lions, rhinos, bison, camels, and baboons, as well as foot safari access to meet giraffes, meerkats, tigers, and sea lions, will shut its doors temporarily.
Ticket holders advised to check email
Anyone with tickets for Knowsley Safari can either follow instructions sent via email or contact the park directly. On its Instagram page, the park said: "Knowsley Safari will be closed tomorrow, Sunday October 25, to ensure the safety of our guests, animals and colleagues during the storm."
"If you’re booked to visit us tomorrow, you will have received an email with details on how to rearrange your visit. If you didn’t receive this, please email safari.park@knowsley.com with your booking reference number and preferred date for your visit."
Other closures and transport changes
The forecast has also led to the closure of the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral today for general visitors, though the Lady Chapel will be open for scheduled services.
Changes will also be made to the Merseyrail timetable tomorrow, with some of the first trains of the day running without passengers. Merseyrail says this is to ensure the rail lines are clear and safe to use. If an issue is found, further services may be cancelled.
Customers have been urged to check the Merseyrail website or app before travelling, as service information will be updated throughout the day. Rail replacement buses will be running between Sandhills, Rock Ferry, and Moorfields stations as planned.
Met Office warning
The Met Office's weather warning for this weekend said: "Strong winds will spread across northern parts of the UK during Saturday afternoon, combining with spells of heavy rain."
"Initially strong southerly winds will affect parts of Scotland before more widespread and even stronger westerly winds develop later on Saturday. Very windy conditions will then persist overnight and through much of Sunday before gradually easing from the southwest later. Gusts of 55-65 mph are likely widely with some coastal and exposed areas potentially seeing gusts of 70-80 mph or more, these strongest gusts most likely across Scotland and the far north of England."
The park added: "Please stay safe in this windy weather. Thank you for your understanding."
