Tag: Edinburgh Zoo

The National Lottery ‘Days Out’ offers up to £25 off top attractions and experiences

  • The National Lottery is inspiring the nation to have fun days out this autumn, by offering money off hundreds of attractions and experiences across the UK 
  • £8 million worth of ‘Days Out’ vouchers will be available from 8th October granting National Lottery players up to £25 off tickets to participating venues on the VisitBritain Shop  

To inspire the nation to have more fun this autumn, The National Lottery is helping to fund great days out at hundreds of attractions and experiences across the UK by offering vouchers that can be used to claim up to £25 off entry.  

From 8th October, anyone with a valid Lotto ticket can claim a £25 voucher* for use at participating venues. Whether it’s an adrenaline-filled day or one full of mindful moments, there’s something for everyone, including country parks, medieval castles, aquariums, walking tours and much more. 

Venues and attractions from all corners of the UK are participating in The National Lottery Days Out promotion, acollaboration with VisitBritain to help support domestic tourism this autumn, including highlights in Scotland:  

  • Animal lovers can visit the Highland Wildlife Park located in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, learn about the 1,000 endangered and threatened species that live at Edinburgh Zoo or catch a glimpse of the only Cow Nose Rays in Scotland at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond.  
  • For a historical experience, discover the childhood residence of Mary, Queen of Scots, Stirling Castle.  
  • For an insight into the gruesome history of Edinburgh, venture inside the Edinburgh Dungeons to learn more about Agnes Finney, the city’s witch. 

Every week National Lottery players raise more than £30 million for Good Causes and this funding has supported 94 of the top 100 most visited tourist attractions in the UK** including Stonehenge, Eden Project, Kew Gardens, Tower of London, ZSL London Zoo, Giants Causeway and Bletchley Park.  

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “The fantastic National Lottery Days Out Scheme is part of our plan to help our brilliant tourism sector to build back better from the challenges of the pandemic.

“There is so much to see and do throughout the year across the whole of the UK. I encourage all National Lottery players to see what’s on offer and get out there and have some great days out at top attractions.”

VisitBritain CEO Sally Balcombe said: “VisitBritain is very pleased to be supporting The National Lottery Days Out campaign to encourage more of us to get out and discover the fantastic visitor attractions and experiences here on our doorstep and enjoy a great day out with family and friends.” 

Redemption: To get £25 off fun days out with The National Lottery this Autumn, National Lottery players should visit www.NationalLotteryDaysOut.com to get one of hundreds of thousands of vouchers available.

The promotion is open to players with Lotto tickets bought on or after 1st October 2021*.   

The money for this initiative comes from a National Lottery promotional fund. It is not being funded by money allocated for National Lottery Good Causes or by Camelot. 

Bestselling author to host Magical Beast Workshops at Edinburgh Zoo on Saturday

Environmental focus next up for the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour

From Monday 27 September to Saturday 2 October, the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour will visit primary school pupils across the country as it continues its series of virtual events.

The tour will focus on the environment, with talks from conservationist, vet, TV presenter and author Jess French, author and rewilding pioneer Isabella Tree with d illustrator Allira Tee, and adventurer and bestselling author Abi Elphinstone.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is supported by Scottish Friendly and organised by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing.

During the pandemic, the tour has been delivered virtually, live streaming into classrooms and living rooms across Scotland and the rest of the UK, with educational watch on demand video content viewed over 100,000 times.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour will host virtual events on the environment for schools across Scotland, with an audience of around 5,000 pupils.

Jess French will talk to young people about the world’s incredible forests and how they can get involved and learn how to protect them. She will share educational extracts from her book: ‘Let’s Save Our Planet: Forests: Uncover the Facts. Be Inspired. Make A Difference.’

Isabella Tree and Allira Tree will discuss insights from her book: ‘When We Went Wild’, a joyful, sustainably printed picture book about two farmers who decide to let their farm run wild, inspired in part by Isabella’s own experience at the world-renowned Knepp rewidling project in West Sussex.

Isabella will also show pupils around the farm via a virtual video tour before reading the book and sharing how she and her husband turned a loss-making farm into a sustainable, wildlife enterprise. This will be followed by an interactive drawalong with the book’s illustrator Allira Tee, who joins the tour live from Melbourne, Australia.

Author Abi Elphinstone will virtually visit P4–7 pupils about her real-life adventures, living with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia to kayaking through the Norwegian fjords.

Abi will also discuss her Unmapped Chronicles series: ‘The Crackledawn Dragon’ – a voyage across a secret kingdom full of silver whales, fire krakens, and underwater palaces. She will share how her own experiences and adventures in the natural world inspire her magical realms and beasts, as well as showing pupils how easy it is to leap into stories of their own.

Authors Live will also return on Thursday 30 September with Abi Elphinstone. schools across Scotland can sign up for P4–7 classes and watch the event live from their classrooms. There will also be a chance to ask the author questions during the event through a Twitter Q&A.

Magical Beasts at Edinburgh Zoo

For budding young writers and animal lovers, Abi Elphinstone will also host Inventing Magical Beasts workshops at Edinburgh Zoo (Budongo Theatre) on Saturday 2 October, starting at 10am and 11.30am.

The event is included in the price of zoo admission, and families are invited to come along and meet the author. Abi will demonstrate how young people can invent their own magical beasts, using animals from Edinburgh Zoo as inspiration. There will also be signed copies of the author’s book available to purchase.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is focusing on the environment, a topic that young people are incredibly engaged with.

“We’re pleased to have  experts in both conservation and rewilding joining the tour. The pupils are sure to learn more about their planet and how to protect it for many years to come.

“We hope families can join our event at Edinburgh Zoo, where Abi Elphinstone will help inspire the next generation of budding writers.”

Beccy Angus, Head of Discovery and Learning at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the wildlife conservation charity which leads Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It is wonderful to welcome Abi Elphinstone to the zoo.

“As a wildlife conservation charity, education is at the heart of what we do. We hope this event will help our visitors learn more about the spectacular species in our zoos and around the world, and inspire the next generation of conservationists.”

Spotted! Giraffes are back at Edinburgh Zoo

A very tall package was received at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo yesterday (Tuesday 11 May) as two male giraffes arrived from Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire. 

The wildlife conservation charity has partnered with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky to bring giraffes back to the capital for the first time in over 15 years and support vital work to protect the species in the wild. 

Ronnie and Arrow will have some of the best views in the city from their brand-new hilltop home and will be gradually introduced to visitors over the coming weeks. 

Jonathan Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said, “It is incredible to welcome giraffes back to Edinburgh Zoo and we are so excited to start introducing them to our charity’s members, patrons and visitors after they have settled in. 

“Numbers of giraffes in the wild have declined by almost 30% since the 1980s due to habitat loss and poaching, so this is a really important opportunity for us to raise awareness and support the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s work to save the species. 

“Our brand-new giraffe house has been designed with high level walkways which means visitors will be able to meet these wonderful creatures face-to-face, giving them an amazing opportunity to connect with nature and be inspired to join us in protecting them from extinction.” 

Up to three more male giraffes will be arriving at Edinburgh Zoo in the coming weeks and the newly-formed bachelor herd will need time to bond with each other and get used to their new home before the giraffe house officially opens to the public in mid-June. 

Jonathan Appleyard added, “As they are the tallest animals in the world, it is very likely visitors will be able to spot our giraffes exploring their outdoor areas before we officially open to the public. 

“We are so grateful to Glenmorangie and everyone who donated to help build our giraffe house and support our partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.” 

Julian Fennessy, co-director and co-founder of GCF, said, “There are only about 117,000 giraffe remaining in all of Africa. Their numbers have dropped by almost 30% in the last three decades.

“As this decline has happened largely unnoticed, it is now time that we draw more attention to this silent extinction. Zoos play an important role in sharing this message and the new giraffe herd at Edinburgh Zoo can play a vital role in raising awareness and funds for the plight of their wild cousins in Africa.” 

Thomas Moradpour, President and Chief Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, said, “This majestic creature has long been a beloved symbol of our brand, thanks to our distillery’s giraffe-high stills, the tallest in Scotland.

“These amazing animals are under threat of a silent extinction, which is why we are proud to be official partners of giraffe conservation at Edinburgh Zoo, and to support the work of GCF in the wild. 

“Through this global partnership, we hope to raise awareness of the plight of the giraffe, and ensure these wonderful creatures remain part of our world for many centuries to come.”  

More information about visiting Edinburgh Zoo, the giraffes and how people can help care for the charity’s animals is available at edinburghzoo.org.uk/we-are-open.  

Edinburgh Zoo to reopen to members this weekend

As current Scottish Government guidance means we can open our gates to provide a safe, outdoor environment for City of Edinburgh residents, we are reopening the zoo on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting this Friday (26 February). 

Tickets for 26 – 28 February are only available to members and prepaid ticket holders as a thank you from our charity for your support during this difficult time. 

March weekend tickets will go on sale to everyone next week, and we may add extra dates if there is demand.  

Safety comes first and it is important everyone follows government guidance to protect themselves and others. This means you must not travel from outside the local authority area or gather in groups of more than two households with more than two adults and everyone must book a time slot online in advance.  

Please respect the new ‘rules of the road’ at the zoo and our dedicated teams who are there to make sure everyone has a safe and fun day out. 

Remember we can only open outdoors which means all indoor animal areas and our gift shop must remain closed for now. Toilets and changing facilities, takeaway only catering and ‘Click & Collect’ options from our online shop will all be available.  

We really appreciate your support and patience and kindly ask that you read the information below before getting in touch (you can find contact details at the bottom of this page).  

Hopefully you can visit us soon – we look forward to seeing you!  

BOOK MEMBER TICKETS FOR 26 –28 FEB 
 

BOOK PRE-PAID TICKETS FOR 26 –28 FEB

Upcycled fire hoses provide some bear necessities!

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has swung into action yet again – by providing the bear necessities for some upcycled play equipment for Edinburgh Zoo.

The emergency service is dedicated to reducing waste and always seeking creative and innovative ways to reuse old or damaged gear that can no longer be used.
And the sustainability team at SFRS was therefore delighted to hand over a batch of redundant, heavy duty hoses to make a sturdy hammock swing for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s sun bears – a species also known as the honey bear due to their love of honeycombs.
It’s pretty clear that Rotana thinks his new equipment is sweet judging by this picture (above)!
Kenneth Blake is the SFRS sustainability manager. He said: “We are always thinking of new and creative ways to reduce waste – but I have to say that this particular example really lays ‘bear’ the true extent of our commitment.
“There are not that many disposal routes for these hoses, which are around 25 metres in length and made from really durable rubber, other than as building materials.
“When the opportunity came up to give them to a wildlife conservation charity, we were thrilled. These hoses really are the bee’s knees for creating a long-lasting swing hammock for the sun bears.”
Malayan sun bears are one of the world’s rarest species of bear. The wild population is under serious threat due to the rapid destruction of their habitat and the illegal wildlife trade, making them vulnerable to extinction.
Rotana was rescued from a tiny cage in a private home in Cambodia. He was rehomed at the zoo in 2010 and later joined by Babu, a female from the Czech Republic. The pair took their first steps outdoors together just over a year ago.
Kenneth added: “We are also a humanitarian organisation so it is a sincere pleasure to play a small part in providing bears like Rotana with a comfortable and safe environment to play, relax – and ultimately flourish.”
And now the wildlife conservation charity has been given another large donation of hoses, which will be turned into something fun and useful for some of the zoo’s other inhabitants in the coming months.
Darren McGarry, head of living collections at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “As a wildlife conservation charity, we are always grateful when other organisations are keen to support our work.
“Thanks to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, we have been able to create new spaces for our animals to explore using the hoses. As well as being great fun for Rotana and Babu, this is a fantastic way to encourage them to express their natural behaviours.”

Giant Lanterns: Lost Worlds at Edinburgh Zoo

Giant Lanterns are back at Edinburgh Zoo
Returning for a third year in a brand new trail, light up your winter at Giant Lanterns: Lost Worlds. With a prehistoric theme featuring “roar-some” dinosaurs and much more, you’ll be transported back to a time where weird and wonderful creatures roamed the Earth and will discover over 570 million years of wildlife.

This huge scale event will have over 600 lanterns on show with an extended route this year, so there’s more to explore this winter at Edinburgh Zoo!
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland welcomed over 3,000 people through the doors of Edinburgh Zoo last week when Giant Lanterns Lost Worlds opened to the public.

Having spent two months installing hundreds of lanterns inspired by prehistoric creatures, the wildlife conservation charity launched the 47-night extravaganza on Friday 15 November.

Lyndy Donaldson, events and experiences manager at Edinburgh Zoo, said “We are thrilled to bring Giant Lanterns back to the zoo this winter and delighted to see our visitors are just as excited about our new Lost Worlds theme as we are.

“This year we have brought 570 million years of incredible wildlife to light, revealing some of the amazing creatures that once lived on our planet and raising awareness of the very real threat of extinction faced today by endangered species around the world.

“Highlights include a tyrannosaurus rex, a 32-foot-tall volcano, a gigantic 65-foot-long snake and new interactive elements along the trail. As Scotland’s only Chinese lantern festival, it’s a fantastic experience for all the family.”

Tickets for Giant Lanterns Lost Worlds start at £8.50 for children and £17 for adults and are available at www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns. Visitors are encouraged to book online in advance to secure their preferred date and time.

The Giant Lanterns of China run in partnership with the VYA Creative Lantern Company and DDM Entertainment and Events Inc., and is sponsored by The Confucius Institute for Scotland.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Local charity teams up with Amazon for trip to the zoo

A Musselburgh-based charity that supports the wellbeing of children and young people with chronic conditions through art therapy enjoyed a trip to Edinburgh Zoo with the team from Amazon Customer Services Centre in Edinburgh.   Continue reading Local charity teams up with Amazon for trip to the zoo

Firefighters come to the aid of tyred and emotional rhino!

A RHINOCEROS the size of a small car had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck inside his favourite tyre swing – again. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was mobilised to Edinburgh Zoo just before 6pm last night to help the stricken animal. Continue reading Firefighters come to the aid of tyred and emotional rhino!

Tea from two: New Tea Sorbet celebrates the launch of The Giant Lanterns of China

This winter, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is home to The Giant Lanterns of China, an installation of over 450 dazzling giant lanterns that will illuminate the Zoo for 50 awe-inspiring nights. To celebrate the magnificent spectacle, the UK’s leading leaf tea experts, eteaket, has collaborated with Mackie’s of Scotland to produce a refreshing and zingy tea sorbet. Continue reading Tea from two: New Tea Sorbet celebrates the launch of The Giant Lanterns of China