Over the spring and summer months, Bristol Zoo Gardens is inviting the public to celebrate its 186-year history, ahead of the closure of the Clifton site on Saturday 3 September.
A series of special events, activities and attractions will take place from May to September, marking this closing chapter and honouring the long, rich and varied history of the iconic visitor attraction.
Starting in May, the first in a series of events entitled ‘The Zoo and You’ will kickstart the festivities. The series will begin with a ‘Poetry and Story Competition’ launched on Wednesday 11 May, followed by a ‘Memory Show and Tell’ event on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May’, and a live art exhibition later in the spring.
These one-off events will allow the public to reminisce, and share their favourite memories and stories that span generations.
From mid-July, the zoo will mark its last summer season with ‘The Big Summer Send-Off’, a collection of fun-filled interactive activities and attractions, which will be open for the duration of the school summer holidays.
This programme of events has been designed in partnership with the award-winning, Bristol-based theatrical events company, Bakehouse Factory.
Simon Garrett, Head of Public Engagement for Bristol Zoo Gardens, commented: “This summer marks a significant milestone in Bristol Zoo Gardens’ incredible story.
“As we prepare to close the gates to the Clifton site after more than 186 years, we want to ensure we give this famous attraction the send off it deserves and share that celebration with visitors from Bristol and beyond.
“As well as looking back on so many special moments and memories, our summer events will look to the future of the new Bristol Zoo, which we will create at our Wild Place site."
The BIG Summer Send Off will feature a collaborative timeline exhibit on Bristol Zoo Gardens’ historic top terrace. The exhibit will evolve over the summer, as visitors add their own memories, thoughts and wishes to the colourful installation.
The centrepiece of the celebrations will be a huge interactive art installation that will stand tall on the main lawn. With details still to be announced, this specially commissioned sculpture will mark a pivotal moment in time and captivate visitors.
Families will also have the chance to immerse themselves in a fun interactive theatrical experience especially written for Bristol Zoo Gardens’ final summer. The shared experience will take families on an adventure as they explore and learn about animals, and the positive action we can all take to protect the future of the planet.
Kate Statham, managing director, Bakehouse Factory commented: “It’s an honour to play a part in this special summer programme, which will mark a significant moment in Bristol’s cultural history.
“There is so much inspiration to be drawn from the Zoo’s vast history, but we also wanted to ensure this family programme marked a moment in time, creating new magical memories. With this programme, you can expect lots of interaction and a festival atmosphere that will span the whole of the summer holidays.”
Tickets for the BIG Summer Send Off are now available to purchase on Bristol Zoo’s website www.bristolzoo.org.uk.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is the fifth oldest zoo in the world, and the first to use the word ‘Zoo’. Since opening its gates to the public in 1836, it has been home to tens of thousands of animals and earned international acclaim for its conservation breeding programmes, and its field conservation and education work.
Over the years, generations of visitors have experienced the magic of this iconic site and been introduced to the many, much-loved animals that have lived within the 12-acre landmark. In total the site has welcomed more than 90 million visitors.
As well as running the visitor attraction and its sister site Wild Place Project, Bristol Zoological Society focuses on breeding endangered species, conservation and education, working to protect wildlife on four continents in their natural habitats.
The famous attraction will be open to the public until it closes on 3 September 2022, before the new Bristol Zoo opens at Wild Place Project in 2024. Throughout that period, Wild Place Project will continue to welcome visitors as usual.
To find out more about Bristol Zoological Society’s future plans visit https://future.bristolzoo.org.uk.
For the latest news and updates from Bristol Zoo Gardens visit bristolzoo.org.uk or follow @bristolzoo on Instagram, @BristolZooGdns on Twitter or @BristolZooGardens on Facebook.
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