Mission Statement

To leave nature better than we found it by creating thriving habitats, supporting biodiversity, and inspiring everyone to play a part in nature’s recovery.

Our Sustainability Actions

Everything we make or use has an impact on people and the environment, and even the smallest changes can make a significant difference to the future of life on our planet. At Filey Zoo, we recognise that meaningful change comes from consistent action. By regularly reviewing our practices, reducing waste, and evaluating our supply chains, we are taking practical, measurable steps towards a greener future. While many of these measures are simple, together they significantly reduce our environmental impact and support our commitment to regenerative tourism.

Energy Efficiency

We continually seek ways to reduce energy consumption across the zoo by:

• Using energy-efficient LED lighting.
• Purchasing electricity from a renewable energy supplier.
• Switching off lights and equipment when not in use.
• Heating the staff room with an air source heat pump.
• Maintaining good insulation in heated buildings.
• Reducing heat loss by keeping doors and windows closed where appropriate.

Water Conservation

To minimise water use, we have installed and use:

• Waterless urinals.
• Dual-flush toilets.
• Automatic taps.
• Water butts for plant watering and pond replenishment.

Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling

Reducing waste and extending the life of materials is a key priority. We:

• Reuse building materials such as timber and mesh wherever possible.
• Repair equipment or purchase second-hand alternatives before buying new.
• Donate surplus building materials to local allotments and community groups.
• Provide recycling facilities in visitor and staff areas.
• Separate paper towel waste for recycling and encourage visitor participation through clear signage.
• Reuse delivery notes and other paper as scrap paper.
• Digitise administration and invoices to reduce paper consumption.
• Reuse cardboard packaging as animal enrichment before recycling it.
• Source surplus fruit and vegetables from local retailers for animal feed.

Sustainable Travel and Local Procurement

We support lower-carbon travel and local purchasing by:

• Combining journeys and errands to reduce vehicle use.
• Purchasing from local suppliers wherever possible.
• Providing cycle racks for visitors and staff.
• Benefiting from public transport links, with bus stops located directly outside the zoo entrance.

Habitat Management and Biodiversity

Protecting and enhancing nature is central to our work. We:

• Maintain a variety of native habitats, including woodland and ponds.
• Provide nest boxes and wildlife-friendly areas throughout the site.
• Grow and manage browse, plants and natural food sources for animals.
• Avoid the use of pesticides.
• Minimise herbicide use, relying instead on hand weeding, strimming and other mechanical methods.
• Use no peat-based compost.
• Have planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs.
• Are incorporating a sedum green roof into our new reptile house.
• Continue to create and enhance habitats that support native wildlife.

Sustainable Café Operations

Our café aims to reduce waste and support local businesses by:

• Using recyclable or biodegradable takeaway cups and lids.
• Eliminating plastic cutlery and sauce sachets.
• Providing paper straws.
• Using napkins made from recycled materials.
• Sourcing baked goods from independent local businesses.
• Ensuring surplus food is redistributed where possible.

Circular Resource Use

We make full use of natural resources generated on site by:

• Using tree cuttings and browse from the zoo for animal feed and enrichment.
• Reusing branches as animal perches.
• Shredding removed trees and branches for animal substrates and landscaping.
• Sourcing logs, bark and woodchip from local tree surgeons.
• Using our own manure in gardens and paddocks.
• Creating sustainable animal enrichment from recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, Christmas trees and carpet tubes.
• Refilling cleaning products rather than purchasing single-use containers.
• Using picnic benches made from recycled plastic.
• Growing edible plants in tortoise enclosures.
• Using our own eggs as part of animal diets.
• Purchasing only FSC-certified timber.

Educating Staff and Visitors

As a conservation-focused organisation, we encourage sustainable behaviour through interpretation, engagement and daily interactions with visitors. By connecting people with wildlife and the natural world, we aim to inspire positive environmental action beyond the zoo.

Future Commitments

To further strengthen our regenerative tourism journey, we aim to:

• Explore on-site renewable energy generation, including solar and wind power.
• Introduce incentives for visitors travelling by public transport.
• Reduce the number of plastic-based products sold in the gift shop.
• Ensure soft toys are made and filled using recycled materials where possible.
• Grow more food on site for animal diets.
• Expand sustainability and conservation education programmes.
• Increase purchasing from local suppliers.
• Encourage suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices.

Regenerative Tourism

At Filey Zoo, regenerative tourism is at the heart of our commitment to nature. Rather than simply reducing our environmental impact, we actively work to enhance biodiversity, create new habitats, and inspire visitors to become stewards of the natural world.

Prior to the zoo’s development, the site consisted mainly of agricultural land used for sheep grazing, bordered by hawthorn hedgerows and a small number of pine trees. Although it supported some wildlife, the diversity of habitats and species was limited. In preparation for the zoo’s opening, dedicated conservation areas were established across the site from 2005 onwards, including the planting of more than 100 predominantly native trees and shrubs to create a developing woodland habitat.

Over time, this habitat has been enriched with native wildflowers and bulbs such as wild narcissus, wild garlic, snake’s head fritillary, snowdrops, crocus, and bluebells. Areas of grassland are left unmown until autumn to benefit pollinators and other wildlife, while log piles and naturally decaying timber provide shelter for hedgehogs, insects, and fungi. Together, these initiatives have transformed the landscape into a rich mosaic of habitats that now supports a far greater diversity of plants, birds, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates.

A large wildlife pond was also created and has since become an important habitat for amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, water birds, and native plant species. In another area of the zoo, perennial wildflower areas have been established alongside cornfield and prairie planting schemes, allowing visitors to see the differences between these habitat types while providing food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife. More recently, a sedum roof has been installed on one of our buildings, creating additional habitat for insects and helping to improve environmental performance.

Education is a key element of our regenerative tourism approach. Throughout the conservation areas, visitors can explore interpretive displays and illustrated identification boards designed for all ages and abilities. These resources help people understand the value of native habitats, local biodiversity, and simple actions they can take to support wildlife at home.

The zoo also features practical conservation demonstrations, including a seed and nectar garden, bird feeding stations, nesting boxes for birds and bats, hedgehog houses, log piles, and a “mini-beast mansion.” These features showcase easy and accessible ways for visitors to create wildlife-friendly spaces in their own gardens.

Our gardens are managed using wildlife-friendly principles, with no pesticides or herbicides used. Plants are carefully selected to provide food, nectar, seeds, and shelter throughout the year. Deadheading is kept to a minimum, allowing fruits and seeds to develop naturally, while perennial foliage is left standing through winter to protect soils and provide refuge for overwintering insects.

Through these initiatives, Filey Zoo demonstrates how tourism can actively contribute to environmental restoration rather than simply conserving what remains. Every visit helps support the continued development of habitats, wildlife education, and conservation projects, ensuring that the site becomes richer in biodiversity year after year. By connecting people with nature and showcasing practical conservation solutions, Filey Zoo creates lasting benefits for wildlife, visitors, and the wider community.