Chester Zoo has announced that from November to February 2018 school visits will be free.
 M.jpg)
The announcement comes as a bid to inspire a generation of conservationists.
The zoo, which is said to be the UK’s most visited tourist attraction outside of London is both a conservation and education charity with an aim of conserving the living world.
Chester Zoo’s major Safari Ranger outreach programme already delivers free sessions to schools throughout the North West of England and North Wales.
Now, all school children visiting the zoo with their schools from November to February will visit for free.
Educational offering
The zoo offers workshops suitable for all Key Stages such as Curious Creatures and Living Things & Their Habitats for Key Stage 1; Rainforests! and Survival in the Wild for Key Stage 2; and Classification and Adaptations for Key Stage 3 and 4.
Animal Talks are also available for school visits and various exhibitions will open throughout the year.
A range of post-visit learning resources for schools are also available on the website.
School groups are asked to pre-book, with a maximum capacity of bookings per day to avoid overcrowding and ensure every child and visitor is able to enjoy the experience.
Conservation work at Chester Zoo
A recent scientific study, supported by the zoo, confirms that people have a significantly better understanding of biodiversity and conservation after a visit to a zoo than before their visit.
With around 1.9 million visitors per year and more than 100,000 people taking part in organised educational trips, Chester Zoo’s ability to shape a generation of conservationists is significant.
Charlotte Smith, head of Discovery and Learning at the zoo, said: “We know that visiting a zoo improves people’s understanding of biodiversity and the living world. We want to encourage as many schoolchildren through our gates as possible. It could be the key to protecting the living world around us.”
For more information, visit www.chesterzoo.org/education.
