Zoo staff take to their bikes

Zoo staff with their bikes outside Bristol Zoo Staff at Bristol Zoo took to their bikes to highlight a special half price offer for visitors to the Zoo next month.

Visitors who cycle to Bristol Zoo Gardens on Saturday, September 4, between 9am and 12 noon will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the usual entry price.

The offer, called ‘half the price for half the wheels’, aims to encourage visitors to travel to the Zoo using ‘green’ transport, and forms part of Bristol Zoo’s ‘green travel plan’.

Zoo staff in a line with their bikes Tim Wilson, head of estates at Bristol Zoo, said: “This is a great opportunity for visitors to jump on their bikes and enjoy a cycle ride up to the Zoo, and be rewarded with half price Zoo entry.”

Zoo members who cycle to the Zoo before 12noon on September 4, who already receive free admission as part of their membership package, will be able to take a guest into the Zoo for free.

Bristol Zoo offers other incentives for visitors who travel by public transport. A free park and ride service runs from the Portway park and ride site in Shirehampton to Bristol Zoo, on some of the Zoo’s busiest days. The free service runs every 20 minutes throughout the day, and is next available on Sunday and Monday, August 29 and 30. Visitors who use the park & ride service can claim one free drink in the Zoo restaurant.

Visitors who travel to the Zoo onany First bus in Bristol can buy a Zoo Safari ticket, which gives you discounted bus travel and Zoo entry. This applies to adult and child tickets only.

Visitors who travel to the Zoo by train can get two-for-one Zoo entry when they present a voucher at the Zoo gates – vouchers are available from the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org/findus. For more information, call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit www.bristolzoo.org.ukor phone 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact the Bristol Zoo Gardens press office:

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

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

Notes to the Editor

BristolZoo Gardens

Bristol Zoo Gardens’ Green Travel Plan aims to develop its existing travel plans into best practice travel plans, meeting British Standard requirements (PAS 500) that complement the Zoo’s ISO14001 Environmental Management System and are successful in reducing car use and overall carbon emissions associated with Zoo staff and visitors.
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.
BristolZoo Gardenssupports – through finance and skill sharing – 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
BristolZoo Gardensis 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.