| Crawley Borough Council’s very own zoo has won a gold sustainability award from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).
Tilgate Nature Centre in Tilgate Park picked up the award for its STAR (Switch To A Reusable) and Zoostainability campaigns. The BIAZA Annual Awards showcase a wide range of exciting projects from BIAZA zoos and aquariums.
The nature centre is home to more than 100 different species, from otters to owls, tapir to terrapins, and reindeer to raccoon dogs.
Through the creation of a sustainability movement, visitors to Tilgate Nature Centre were encouraged to consider more sustainable choices in their everyday life.
Zoostainability is an initiative to raise awareness of overall sustainability issues and STAR, Switch To A Reusable, more specifically on encouraging behaviour change to ditch disposable items and use reusables.
The nature centre team created fun, interactive activities for visitors on sustainable palm oil and litter pollution, 3D signage and a pledge tree.
BIAZA said: “Visitors engaged with the various activities and 70.8 per cent of 388 visitors were able to retain information on sustainability. As a council-run zoo in a large park this movement has had the opportunity to make a far-reaching impact.”
Councillor Chris Mullins, Cabinet member for Wellbeing at Crawley Borough Council, said: “This is great news for Tilgate Nature Centre, Tilgate Park and the council.
“The award is testament to the hard work and dedication of nature centre staff. As well as caring for a wide range of animals, they look for ways to operate more sustainably and this award reflects that.”
For more details on BIAZA visit biaza.org.uk/projects
For more information about Tilgate Nature Centre and to book your visit head to www.crawley.gov.uk//tilgatenaturecentre |
