In News

A collection of 200 new extraordinary animals are now available to find at Longleat. Known as the Lockdown Zoo, the collection is made entirely from buttons and beads and features animals from across the world.

The Lockdown Zoo is the creation of Julie Thomas, a graphic designer, from Malvern, who created the zoo during the 2020 Lockdown for her grandchildren. Over the course of the summer, the zoo gradually evolved, becoming the collection it is today. After surprising her grandsons with each of the new creatures and sharing her creations online, Julie decided she would like to share them with a larger audience and got in touch with the team at Longleat.

Speaking about the decision to take on Julie’s collection, Darren Beasley, Head of Animal Operations at Longleat, said: “As the first Safari Park to open outside of Africa back in 1966, we do have a lot of experience looking after exotic animals, but Julie’s menagerie is definitely something else.

“This time, effort and love that Julie has put into the collection deserves to be seen by as many people as possible and I’m sure its new home at the entrance of our Jungle Kingdom will provide a lot of enjoyment for our visitors.”

The Lockdown Zoo is now available to view at Longleat.

There are a range of accessible facilities at Longleat, including accessible toilets throughout the park, as well as a changing facility. Hearing loops are installed on all Longleat Safari buses and the house has access for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. You can find all the latest accessible information on Longleat’s website.  

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