September senior saver at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Zoo Gardens is offering half price entry for senior citizens next month.

Visitors over the age of 60 will be able to meet more than 450 species of animals, from tiny insects and fish, to penguins, meerkats, lions and gorillas, as well as enjoying the Zoo’s 12-acre grounds, all for 50 per cent off the entry price, throughout September.

Simply print out a discount voucher from Bristol Zoo Gardens’ website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/senior-citizen-september-saver-half-price-entry and take it along to the Zoo for half priced entry. Alternatively contact the Zoo by telephone on 0117 974 7300.

Eddie Mole, curator of horticulture at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “With schools starting a new academic year, September is one of the warmest and quietest times to visit the Zoo. Our 12-acre grounds are starting to show the first signs of autumn colour and there are plenty of benches for visitors to sit and relax surrounded by trees, plants, and colourful herbaceous borders.”

To qualify for the autumn half price offer simply log on to the Zoo’s website at www.bristolzoo.org.ukand print off a copy of the ‘Senior Citizens Saver - Half Price Voucher’, complete it and present it at the main gate on arrival. Alternatively contact the Zoo by telephone on 0117 974 7300. Vouchers are only redeemable during September 2010.

Visitors to the Zoo’s can also catch the daily animal talks, Animal Encounters sessions in the Terrace Theatre, face-painting, Amazing Animals displays on the main lawn, and the interactive Zoolympics trail. All paths and walkways throughout the Zoo are easily accessible and wheelchair friendly.

For more information visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.ukor phone 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

 For more information contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

LucyParkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lparkinson@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

 Notes to editors

Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo Gardens is an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
• Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
• To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo Gardens supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
• In 2010, International Year of Biodiversity, Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.