Housebuilders donate £1,000 to help South Devon zoo and conservation charity

A much-loved local zoo and conservation trust in South Devon is celebrating an unexpected windfall from leading housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes, who have donated £1,000 to help it recover from the challenges of Covid.

Shaldon Zoo and Wildlife Trust, which carries out vital conservation work all over the world, has suffered major financial losses during the lockdown as it has only been able to open for six months out of the past twelve. Relying heavily on income from visitors, this has put the small conservation charity under enormous pressure and it recently put out a plea on local media for support to ensure its survival.

Last week, the charity received a surprise letter announcing the donation from the housebuilders, which are building homes across Devon, including new communities at Victoria Heights and Minerva in Exeter. Each month, as part of their community fund, Barratt and David Wilson Homes give £1,000 to charities and organisations in the local area as part of their commitment to building strong communities close to their developments.

Set in an acre of woodland garden above the attractive coastal village of Shaldon, the Zoo looks after and helps preserve some of the rarest and most endangered animals in the world. Now, as the team prepares to re-open in April - subject to the Government's timetable for easing lockdown - they have new funds to help feed and look after the endangered animals they care for.

Zak Showell, director of Shaldon Zoo and Wildlife Trust said:

"This donation came out of the blue and is an incredible and very welcome surprise for us. As a small conservation charity, £1,000 goes a long way and it will help tide us over until we're able to open again. We're really thankful that a large organisation such as Barratt and David Wilson Homes acknowledge the role small charities like ours play in wildlife conservation and in the local community."

Nicki Reid, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes in Devon added: 

"It's really important to us to make a positive contribution to the communities we build in and we chose Shaldon Zoo for this month's community fund donation because it is a much-valued attraction for the local community and also does vital conservation work around the world. When we heard it was in trouble, we wanted to help and are delighted that our donation is going to make a real difference to its important work."