biodiversity.

Every year, we tend to and increase our number of wildflower gardens. In additon to this, we leave unused areas to be wild with signage to educate guests: 'Don't mind the weeds, we are feeding the bees'.

Northumberland Zoo has a site listing on iNaturalist where Zoo Staff and visitors can contribute and record any wildlife sightings. This data is fed into the National Biodiversity Network which monitors species populations & locations.

We are so lucky to have a very diverse range of birdlife on-site including European Kestrel, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, House Sparrows, Goldfinches, the list goes on and on.

We have a bee apiary on-site and on-show to the public, home to over half a dozen colonies of European Honey Bees. You can see them hard at work around the Zoo during the warmer months and we sell their honey and beeswax candles in the gift shop when available.

In conjunction with the Northumberland Rivers Trust, a series of 5 large wetland ponds were excavated and left to 're-wild' adjacent to the river banks along the Longdyke Burn. The plan will be to get public nearer these wild areas in the future.

At the Zoo, there are several 'hand-made' bug hotels that showcase how easy it is to build bug hotels and educate visitors on what they can do for wildlife in their back garden.

With the addition of a plot of adjacent farmland, we are working with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust to develop a 're-wilding' plan for this area, creating the best habitats for wildlife.