Chester Zoo is letting school kids visit for FREE

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Chester Zoo is letting schoolchildren visit for free as part of its aim to inspire a generation of conservationists. The educational trips have been taking place since 2017 and this year 35,000 tickets are up for grabs.

Pupils from nurseries, primary, secondary schools, and colleges can take advantage of the free places, which give them the chance to explore conservation up close at the charity’s 128-acre zoological gardens.

Conservation education experts from the zoo are especially keen for the tickets to help schools in disadvantaged areas and are say the organised educational visits are designed to spark a passion for saving species. Join our FREE Manchester Family WhatsApp group by clicking here Charlotte Smith, director of conservation education and engagement at Chester Zoo, said: “Every one of us is a custodian of our natural world but it’s the next generation of conservationists – children and young people today – who are fundamentally important to overcoming the environmental and biodiversity challenges our planet is facing. "They are inspiring and they give us hope, which is why we’re so keen to connect them with the awe and wonder of nature and help to nurture their passion and desire to make a difference." She added: "It’s proven that a visit to the zoo can significantly enhance people's understanding of the huge efforts that go into conserving highly threatened species, while also bringing physical and mental health benefits, too.

That’s why we particularly want to reach youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds and ensure they are the primary beneficiaries of the initiative – so we can provide them with the skills and know-how to go on and make a real, positive difference to wildlife in their everyday