GOING WILD: £8m project will help reverse decline of wildlife on the brink
Last year the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) unveiled its 2030 strategy with a bold new vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
To do this, we aim to reverse the decline of at least 50 species, enable more than 100 communities to better protect nature and create stronger connections with nature for more than a million people by 2030.
As part of this work, we are thrilled to be working in partnership with Simpson Builders of Beauly to build Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre at Highland Wildlife Park, an £8m project that will inspire local and global audiences in the Cairngorms National Park to protect nature at a time when the world is facing a biodiversity crisis.
Thanks to the amazing support of Simpson Builders and the funding they are providing, we are now working together to provide a travel bursary scheme that will allow us to support more than 20 community and school groups in the Highlands by increasing access to nature through free access to Highland Wildlife Park.
Access to nature has unique benefits for people and communities with evidence showing that being in green spaces and close to wildlife can improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.
However, many people and communities cannot readily access nature, often because of barriers surrounding the cost of travel, geographical isolation or accessibility.
Communities are in need across the Highlands, with a recent report showing child poverty in the area is at its highest, with one in four children under the poverty line; a figure likely to worsen as the cost of living continues to rise.
The cost of travel in the Highlands can vary significantly depending on he distance being travelled, with coaches costing upwards of £450.
Our new bursary scheme will over the cost of travel for community groups to the park, helping to remove the financial barrier to nature.
For those accessing the bursary scheme we will be providing free learning sessions as part of their visit, so they can have a meaningful visit led by a member of our awesome team to further connect them to our animals and nature.
Keep an eye out for further information on our travel bursary scheme coming this month for visits to the park in June.
By working together, RZSS and Simpson Builders hope to make a real difference.
Together, we can provide a scheme to ensure schools and communities most in need can travel to and visit Highland Wildlife Park for free.
Our scheme will not only provide free travel, tickets and learning sessions, but also food and drink where needed.
• Beccy Angus is the RZSS' Head of Discovery and Learning
