Bristol Zoo have announced plans for final programme before relocation
Posted on: 15 Jun 2022Bristol Zoo Gardens are inviting locals to celebrate the park's 185-year history in the months leading up to its closure.
One of Bristol’s most popular attractions is set to close in September, however a series of must-see events has been arranged to give the zoo the send-off it deserves.
As Bristol Zoo looks to its future home at the already established Wild Play, visitors will have the chance to honour the rich and varied history of this iconic local visitor attraction.
Events will be taking place from now up until the zoo’s closure on 3 September, tickets can be purchased on the website.
Share your memories of Bristol Zoo Gardens by entering the #TheZooAndYou Poetry and Story Competition ???? ???? ????
— Bristol Zoo Gardens (@BristolZooGdns) June 14, 2022
We've teamed up with Bristol City Poet @CalebParkin to create a series of online poetry classes to hone your literary skills.??
Enter here: https://t.co/LmnuChUSii pic.twitter.com/Gm5yotppWV
Festivities are already in full swing with a series of events named ‘The Zoo and You’.
Special one-off event ‘The Zoo and You, Memory Show and Tell’ kicked off the series last week; the big reveal of Bristol Zoo Gardens’ historical archive allowed visitors to explore these archives and share their own memories of the historic site.
The zoo’s ‘Story and Poetry Competition’ (which is open until Thursday 31 July) again focuses on feelings and memories about the beloved attraction,
With the help of acclaimed Bristol poet Caleb Parkin, the Bristol Zoo Gardens have created a series of poetry tutorials to give prospective poets some top tips on how to write a zoo-themed poem.
Poems can then be submitted to the zoo (via an entry form available on the website) and Caleb (along with a panel of expert judges) will judge the entries. The competition is open to everyone and will be judged in three age categories.
Head to the event page to watch Caleb’s tutorials and find out how to submit your poem.
From Thursday 21 July, Bristol Zoo’s ‘BIG Summer Send Off’ will see a number of interactive activities and attractions (designed by award-winning Bristolian theatre company Bakehouse Factory) take over the site throughout the summer.
The breathtaking centrepiece of the celebrations will be a massive moving art installation, taking over the zoo’s main lawn. Details are yet to be announced but the piece is sure to wow visitors of all ages.
A collaborative timeline will also be taking over the historic top terrace walkway; evolving over the summer, visitors will be able to add their own thoughts and memories to the vibrant exhibit.
With over 90 million visitors over the years, this is sure to be a bittersweet goodbye for many, but this stunning series of events looks like the perfect send-off for one of Bristol’s best-loved attractions.
To find out more about Bristol Zoo Gardens’ summer plans, and the site’s upcoming closure in September, head to the zoo website.
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Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.
