Twycross Zoo supports Great Big Green Week 2022

Leading conservation charity Twycross Zoo is supporting Great Big Green Week 2022 this weekend, with a host of special activities to highlight the importance of tackling climate change and protecting nature.

The Zoo’s Great Big Green Weekend will take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September in support of the national community awareness week, which aims to mobilise tens of thousands of people across the UK to celebrate the everyday actions being taken to stand up for nature.

Across the weekend, visitors of all ages can enjoy a variety of activities at the Zoo that will entertain, educate and inspire action to help protect the planet we call home.

On Sunday 25 September, families can watch an exclusive performance from the EAGA Gospel Choir, who reached the semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. Returning to the Zoo for the second time, the Choir’s performance is part of an ongoing programme of activity at the Zoo, designed to help people appreciate and connect with nature, meet with like-minded individuals and enjoy the positive mental health benefits of spending time outdoors.

Visitors will also have the chance to Build a Bug Home, helping to create a brand-new sanctuary for creepy crawlies at the Zoo. Bugs such as bees, butterflies and beetles are important pollinators and play a vital role in our ecosystem, but they are finding it increasingly difficult to find lasting habitats. Visitors can find out more from the Zoo’s Education Team and support them in building a bug hotel, which will become a permanent fixture at Twycross Zoo.

For those looking to find out more about greener ways of living, they can visit the Sustainable Doll’s House from Hinckley and Rugby Building Society, who have upcycled a doll’s house into a sustainable home. Visitors can learn about solar panels, wind turbines and recycling bins – all of which can help to make homes more eco-friendly.

Twycross Zoo has also partnered with Genuine Solutions to offer staff and visitors a permanent mobile phone recycling scheme. It is estimated that 51% of UK households have unused electronic devices *. From this weekend, visitors will be invited to hand in their old mobile phones at Twycross Zoo, helping to create a more environmentally conscious culture and reduce our impact on the planet.

Finally, guests of all ages will also have the chance to explore the Zoo’s on-site Nature Reserve across the weekend, which helps to protect and preserve local wildlife by influencing species to thrive in a natural wetland habitat. Visitors can download a special activity sheet here, to help them on their journey through the unique habitat.

Dr Rebecca Biddle, Director of Conservation at Twycross Zoo, said:

“We’re delighted to support the Great Big Green Week with a weekend of special activities here at the Zoo. As a conservation charity, we’re committed to inspiring and educating our visitors about the challenges faced by the planet, and the practical actions we can all take to protect it. By working together, we can make a real difference and help to create a brighter, greener future for us all.”

As well as enjoying the Great Big Green Weekend event, families can discover more than 400 animals from over 80 different species in Twycross Zoo’s amazing animal kingdom. Visitors can come face-to-face with some of the world’s most endangered species – including rhinos and bonobos – and learn more about the Zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts to protect and preserve them. Plus, support species conservation even further by purchasing one of the zoo’s brand new sustainable adoption packs, now made from certified recycled materials.