Paignton Zoo bird keeper Lisa Jones freely admits that she has an interest that borders on obsession. She’s fascinated by feathers.
“During the summer months, lots of birds at Paignton Zoo start to moult… I think feathers are among the natural world’s most incredible adaptations. While I was cleaning out the Ural owls, who are moulting heavily now, I wondered if anyone else would be as interested in feathers as me!”
It turns out, yes. Feathers are the often overlooked wonders of nature. We might admire a bird, but do we stop to ask what feathers are, why they are like they...
This is our fifth annual CLIC for Christmas concert raising funds for CLIC Sargent. Once again, we will be hosting a celebration of Christmas in the beautiful Exeter Cathedral and will be joined by one of the winners of our Devon Schools Choir Competition, Exmouth Community College. In addition we are again thrilled to be welcoming the CLIC Sargent singers, a group of exceptionally talented young people who have all benefitted from the support of CLIC Sargent and will be sharing their stories with us as well as their beautiful music. Come along and get your Christmas off to a magical start...
Two vets from Indonesia are the first to benefit from a unique new scholarship programme run by a Cornish vet charity. OVAID – Orang utan Veterinary Aid – is run by Nigel and Sara Hicks, based in Launceston. They help hard-pressed orang utan rescue centres and sanctuaries with veterinary support and donations of equipment.
The new OVAID Bronwyn Scholarship meant that two South East Asian vets were able to make the 12,000 kilometre (7,500 mile) journey to the UK to exchange techniques and information on the care and welfare of orang utans.
A major South West conservation charity has announced its patrons. Both are star names regionally and nationally.
Naturalist Nick Baker and broadcaster Judi Spiers have been unveiled as patrons of Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall.
These are the first patrons that the Trust, previously known as Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, has ever had. Executive Director Simon Tonge said: “We are very proud to announce Nick and Judi as patrons of Wild Planet Trust. We’re extremely grateful for their support...
You may well have heard of Guide Dogs, we’re a national charity working to ensure that people with a visual impairment do not lose their independence. There are around 2 million people in the UK living with sight loss, and all experience a different level of vision and mobility. We offer a range of mobility services to help people keep their independence, and have an amazing number of dedicated staff, volunteers, and of course, dogs who support the Guide Dogs mission.
Guide Dogs needs volunteers who can help look after and support the training of our guide dog puppies! This is a...
Money spent by guests having a great day out in South Devon is directly helping to protect some of Southern Africa’s most iconic animals.
Wild Planet Trust is the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. It helps fund conservation on the ground in one of the hardest countries in the world to work in - Zimbabwe.
The Matobo Hills area, in South West Zimbabwe, is a unique landscape, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003 and incorporating Zimbabwe’s oldest National Park. The Matobo Hills are known for balancing rock...
The Glow in the Park fun run invites people to dance, walk, jog or run though a 5K route with nine different ‘Glow Zones’.
It takes place on Saturday 9th November at Westpoint in Exeter and will help raise money for its partner charities, the Down’s Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome International.
The event is open to all ages and abilities and promises: "Electrifying light shows and energising beats to carry you around the dark course as you get your glow on in the Foam Zone, powder up in the UV Paint Blast Zone and get grooving in the Time Tunnel.”
Zoo keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are naming and shaming their naughtiest penguins. They’re writing the names of mischievous birds on a chalkboard for guests to see - and singling out others for their good behaviour.
The 63 African penguins and 12 macaroni penguins at Torquay’s coastal zoo mix freely with guests. But some penguins are better-behaved than others.
Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling: “We’ve put up a board on which we write the names of the best and worst-behaved penguins, and what they’ve done. This gives guests a real insight into exactly what penguins get...
September is blood cancer awareness month and local charity Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) will be collecting and raising awareness across Devon to help raise funds and awareness for the charity.
ELF is currently looking for volunteers to donate an hour or two of time to help at various collections around the county. Volunteering is a great opportunity to get out and about in the community, meet new people and help a great cause.
ELF is currently recruiting for collections in Exeter at the Guildhall Shopping Centre on Saturday 14th September and Tesco Exeter Vale on Thursday...
The charity zoo has its very own branded blend – Zoorabica. It’s the first time the charity has offered its own named coffee. The new beverage is supplied by Coffeeworks, based in Exeter, an independent company with over 20 years’ experience.
Paignton Zoo Group Catering Manager Jennifer Proctor, who helped choose the final blend, said: “We have gone for this new blend because of taste, price, the support that Coffeeworks offer and the training they provide.” She visited the family-owned roasting business in Bristol to select the coffee.
