Chester Zoo Awarded £4 Million for Habitat Restoration and Education Projects

Chester Zoo has received over £4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to assist in financing its extensive conservation efforts in Cheshire. The grant will be used to restore natural habitats and rejoin ecosystems throughout the region, namely through the restoration of hedgerows and more extensive habitat renewal. The zoo will restore 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) of hedgerows and more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of different habitats to enhance the biodiversity and provide a better habitat for local wildlife.

The project will benefit the wider community, extending beyond habitat restoration. Chester Zoo will be spending some of the funds on offering learning opportunities for 4,500 school children to enhance school grounds to benefit wildlife and engage with conservation projects. The scheme, Networks for Nature, has the aim of inspiring children to live sustainably and environmentally responsibly.

Apart from the environmental and educational aspects, the project will also create 14 new jobs at Chester Zoo, further advancing its ongoing activities in collaboration with local community groups. These groups will be tasked with transforming outdoor areas to ensure they become wildlife-friendly and beneficial to the local community as well.

This grant is a significant step in the right direction towards Chester Zoo's ongoing work at environmental conservation. Through the coming together of educational institutions and communities, the zoo seeks to create lasting differences in the manner in which people live in and interact with their environments.

Source
BBC News