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The Small Zoo Network is delighted to welcome Chew Valley Animal Park, British Wildlife Centre, Waddesdon Manor, Tropical Birdland and Fife Zoo as our newest members. We are incredibly pleased to see the Network continuing to grow, with five organisations from across the UK joining our community. Each brings its own experience, expertise and perspective, further strengthening the collective voice of small and independent zoological collections. Chew Valley Animal Park joins u

It’s been a busy few months for the Small Zoo Network. This summer has been a particularly busy period, with workshops, parliamentary engagement, advocacy and plenty of opportunities for members to meet and learn from one another. Bringing Small Zoos Together One of the most important parts of the Small Zoo Network is our programme of free professional development opportunities, and 2026 has seen this go from strength to strength. After we kicked off our 2026 workshop program

Another successful workshop for our members! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us today for our Keeper Experiences and Social Media Workshop at The New Forest Wildlife Park. We had another packed schedule filled with engaging talks, hands-on activities, valuable discussions and plenty of opportunities for our members to share experiences, ideas and best practice while networking with colleagues froma cross the sector. A special thank you to New Forest Wildlife Park for

What an inspiring day at our Native Species Conservation workshop, hosted by Hobbledown Epsom. From insightful discussions to hands-on activities, the day was packed with networking and knowledge sharing focused on strengthening native species conservation and education across our incredible community of small zoos. Our small but mighty zoos have the power to connect our communities to our native wildlife and be part of the solution to bringing back our most vulnerable native

The Small Zoo Network has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the forthcoming increases in business rates, highlighting the serious impact these could have on small zoos and wildlife attractions across the UK. While recent support announcements have recognised some parts of the hospitality sector, small zoos, many of which operate as not-for-profit organisations, risk being overlooked. Our letter outlines how rising business rates directly affect animal welfa

An updated version of the 2027 Standards was published, 20 January and can be found UK Zoos Expert Committee - GOV.UK to correct minor errors, typos and update the table B16: Artiodactyla (Clade Cetartiodactyla), table B43: Siluriformes, table B44: Batrachoidiformes and table B45: Scorpaeniformes under the title ‘Categorisations and listing’ taxonomic references in the hazardous species list. The changes made do not change any of the requirements in the Standards.

We're excited to announce our first workshops of 2026! Our upcoming member-only workshops are free to attend and focused on collaboration, community, and shared learning across the Small Zoo Network. Native Species Conservation, Wednesday 22nd April 2026, Hobbledown Epsom. Keeper Experiences & Social Media, Wednesday 20th May 2026, New Forest Wildlife Park. From Farm to Zoo: Navigating the Challenges, Tuesday 2nd June 2026, White Post Farm. Free for SZN members. Members can r

The Small Zoo Network marked its first full year in 2025 with significant progress and meaningful connections. From expanding membership to hosting educational workshops, the network has laid a strong foundation for collaboration and growth among small zoos and aquariums. This review highlights the key milestones and partnerships that shaped the year, showcasing how the network supports its members and advances the collective mission. Expanding Our Community of Zoos and Aquar