Meet Our Committee Members
This is our dedicated team of committee members representing various collections small collections across the country.
Committed to driving excellence in animal welfare, conservation, education and research by promoting high standards, facilitating resource and data sharing, and supporting our members in achieving their full potential.
Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park
Small zoos are full of amazingly multiskilled people who are resilient, great problem solvers and have freedom to be creative. However often isolated with limited resources, I'm proud to be working with a team of people creating a network specific to this group that helps meet their needs to face challenged together.
The Fenn Bell Conservation Project
In 2024 I presented at the BIAZA annual conference, my talk was entitled 'Does Size Matter?'. Speaking about working in a small zoo for more than 10 years and about all the fantastic conservation and education work us smaller collections undertake, hopefully resonated with some of the listeners, although at times it seemed as though my message was falling on deaf ears. Being part of the SZN and helping drive the change, where collaboration, shared expertise and most importantly community support are key. Today, conservation requires collaboration and a community, and I want to know whether you can be part of that.
Birdworld
I've been lucky to have a career working all over the world in large collections, but have always found that some of the most passionate and hard working staff are found in smaller collections who don't get the recognition or support they deserve due to a lack of time or resources. The SZN was set up by a group of like-minded people to encourage collaboration, to work together to highlight these amazing collections and the people who often get forgotten. It's wonderful to see how quickly the SZN has already grown and we have amazing plans for how we can keep growing in the future.
Small zoos have the potential to educate and inform millions of people every year and the ability to make significant contributions to the conservation of species.
It can be daunting to consider the tasks ahead of us but by working together, sharing resources and expertise we can achieve great things for the planet.
To quote Edmund Burke; “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”
As a smaller zoo, whatever your budget, whatever your passion, you have a role to play. Do not underestimate your ability to make a difference.
Paradise Park
New Forest Wildlife Park
I’m excited and enthused to be part of the Small Zoos Network. For too long the smaller animal collections in the UK have been overshadowed by larger collections and so often unsupported by the official zoo associations. Pulling the small collections together we can work and collaborate on existing projects, new ventures and show the public that small can be mighty. Ex-situ Conservation can and will only work if we all work together, equally and inclusively.
Golders Hill Park Zoo
As a manager of a small zoo, I felt it could sometimes be quite isolating so I was keen to create a network, that would offer connections and support for others in the same situation. Small zoos do such amazing work and it’s great to have a place where people can share their success, look for advice and work together.
Battersea Park Children's Zoo
Working at one of the smallest zoos in the country, I’ve always taken great pride in what we’ve accomplished, especially given the unique challenges we face. I believe there is a clear gap in our industry: a need for stronger collaboration and cohesion among our many incredible small zoos. That’s where the Small Zoo Network comes in.
By improving access to training, resources, and opportunities, we can empower smaller zoos to make a lasting difference in their local communities. And I truly believe there’s nothing more valuable to the conservation, education, and research in our sector than that.
Hemsley Conservation Centre
Small zoos are vital hubs of conservation, education, and community connection, driven by passionate and hardworking teams. As part of the SZN committee, I’m excited to help support and uplift the incredible people who make these institutions thrive, and to create more opportunities for them to grow, connect, and lead in a positive way. There’s important work ahead, and I’m proud to play a part in it.
Through collective action, we represent and advocate for the vital role small zoos play within their communities and in protecting the natural world.