We have been reviewing our visitor stats for the Virtual Swanage website for the first four months of 2012 compared to 2011. The stats show an increase in the accommodation, events, local directory and the Buy and Sell sections but a decrease in the Gallery and the blog.

 From these stats it seems that more people are looking for accommodation for the current year and are looking for events to visit while on their holidays and also local business, clubs and organisations. The gallery hasn't had as many updates this year as we had planned due to other work commitments and weather conditions and this also results in a lack of new blog posts notifying of new additions to the site.

We ask all the business owners who are listed with us to let us know if you allow Dogs and other pets in your businesses. We would like to complile a list of pet friendly businesses to add to the website.

Our family welcomes yours to join us at Easter, from little Silvestre in Europe’s only orang-utan crèche to our family groups of woolly monkeys and golden-cheeked gibbons!

If you’re looking for some eggcitement this Easter, Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre in Wareham is the place to be!  Once again this Easter weekend there’s a tasty treat for children visiting Monkey World as from Good Friday (6 April) until Easter Monday (9 April) the first 100 children to enter the park each day will receive a FREE chocolate Easter egg!

Home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates of 17 different species, Monkey World is a fun and fascinating day out for the whole family. Daily keeper talks provide interesting information about the parks residents, many of whom have been neglected or cruelly treated in the past.  There’s also plenty of opportunity for the kids to ‘monkey around’ in the Great Ape Play area – the largest in the south – or a soft play area in the Treetops Café for younger ones.

With a range of food options and picnic spots available, plus a well stocked gift shop, Monkey World is the perfect Easter holiday day out and there’s no better time to visit as the Rescue Centre celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary this year! The park officially opened on 14th July 1987, and on the same date this year Monkey World is hosting a spectacular ‘Party In The Park’! Tickets for this evening event are now on sale and more details are available at www.monkeyworld.org.

There’s no better time to come and celebrate Monkey World’s achievements throughout the past quarter of a century, so enjoy a fascinating family day out this Easter and come early to make sure your child is one of the lucky 100 children collecting an eggciting chocolate treat!