Great Days Out

Charity teddy bears’ picnics at Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts (news)

15th June 2009

Two local zoos are holding charity teddy bears’ picnics – and they need your help.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and Living Coasts in Torquay are taking part in the fundraising event as part of a European conservation programme.

Staff are inviting visitors to bring their teddy bears - and a picnic - along and enjoy a great day out for a good cause.

The picnics have been organised by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) as part of a summer-long campaign to support European carnivores such as otters, wild cats, lynx and of course bears.

Spokesperson Phil Knowling told WOSW: “Lots of people have their very own European carnivore - a teddy bear! Holding a picnic is a great way of having fun and raising awareness for this important group of animals.

“Come along to Living Coasts or Paignton Zoo with your teddy bear in time for 12.30pm – our picnics will coincide with others taking place in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, Riga and other places. We hope to raise as much awareness for the cause as possible.”

The Living Coasts picnic will be at the seal amphitheatre. Staff will be putting on a performance of their popular Peverill’s Perils theatre show.

There will be a guess the name of the bear competition and the Trade Winds shop will be donating money from certain purchases on the day. The Living Coasts fundraising target is £500.

The Paignton Zoo picnic will be at the undercover picnic area near the Tree Tops snack shack. Teddy bear footprints will lead picnickers to the signing-in point.

Zoo volunteers will be selling badges and bear shaped biscuits to help raise funds. Cuba the Crocodile mascot will be making a special appearance.

An activity trail will be available with a prize on offer of a Zoo goodie bag.

For every visitor who brings a teddy bear, Paignton Zoo will make a 50p donation to the campaign.

The event is being supported by South Devon firm Home Bakery, who are donating teddy bear shaped biscuits to help with the fundraising efforts.

For information on Paignton Zoo Environmental Park go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 01803 697500.

For information about Living Coasts ring 01803 202470 or go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk

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