Why Did Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park Win a Gold Award?

Ever been to a zoo and wondered what goes on behind the scenes? It turns out, it's a lot more than just feeding the monkeys and cleaning out the enclosures. Some places are doing some seriously cool stuff to help protect animals all over the planet.

And one of those places, the Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park, has just bagged a massive award for its work. Think of it like the Oscars, but for zoos and aquariums. And they didn't just get any old trophy; they won a gold award, which is a pretty big deal in the conservation world.

So, what's this gold award all about?

Right, let's get into it. The award comes from a group called BIAZA, which stands for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This organisation is basically the gold standard for zoos in the UK and Ireland, making sure everything is top-notch for both the animals and the people who visit them. The BIAZA awards are a yearly celebration of the amazing work its members do. The fact that the Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park won a gold award for capacity building shows it's at the top of its game.

But what on earth is 'capacity building'? It sounds a bit like corporate jargon, doesn't it? But it's actually quite simple. It's all about giving people the skills and knowledge they need to make a real difference in conservation. This particular gold award was given because of an incredible event the park hosted back in August 2024. They held a Conservation Skills Conference, bringing together experts and conservation partners from across the world. Imagine a massive meet-up of the planet's biggest animal lovers, all sharing ideas on how to save endangered species. They talked about everything from new zoo standards and analysing disease risks to sharing incredible case studies. The whole event was a skills-based training conference designed to empower people to get stuck into conservation. This wasn't just another meeting; it was a hands-on effort to build a team of conservation superheroes.

More than just a day out with the animals

It's easy to think of a wildlife park as just a fun day out, but places like this are on the front line of a global battle. Lauren Lane, the Animal Sciences and Conservation Manager at Askham Bryan College and University Centre, put it perfectly. She welcomed the award, saying: "We are thrilled to win a gold award for this outstanding event. We are in a biodiversity crisis and conservation is now more than ever everyone's responsibility. This conference gave the skills for anyone to be able to tackle conservation issues in their own remit."

A 'biodiversity crisis' basically means that loads of different types of animals and plants are in danger of disappearing forever. It's a serious problem, and this conference was all about giving people the tools to fight back. The work that BIAZA members, including the team at the Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park, do is incredibly varied. Judges for the annual awards look at hundreds of amazing projects. These can be anything from reintroducing teeny-tiny harvest mice back into the wild, to trekking through jungles to track wild pangolins, or even developing special ways to care for elderly elephants and give medicine to endangered frogs. It's this kind of dedication that makes a huge difference to wildlife and conservation efforts worldwide.

A team effort for the planet

The Askham Bryan team isn't working alone. They're part of a massive network of zoos and aquariums, all pulling in the same direction. Members of the Irish association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) have put more than £150 million into conservation projects over the last five years. That's a huge amount of money going directly towards protecting our planet's wildlife.

And it's not just about money. It's also about education. Together, these parks and aquariums welcome 30 million visitors a year and deliver over 1.15 million structured lessons. That's a lot of people learning about the importance of animals and their habitats. This work has led to some incredible success stories. Thanks to the efforts of the wider association of zoos, species that were once extinct in the wild, like the scimitar-horned oryx and the Socorro dove, are now making a comeback. Even tiny partula snails have been saved from the brink.

Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA, summed it up:

"This is an incredible achievement reflecting the very best in the zoo and aquarium community. We are at the very forefront of the fightback for nature, which needs all our help. As leaders we are absolutely committed to the very highest levels of animal welfare, conservation, education and research - all while offering brilliant days out for the family."

What's the deal with Askham Bryan College and its park?

So, who are the people behind this award-winning park? The Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park is actually part of a much bigger place: Askham Bryan College. The college is a specialist land-based institution, which means it teaches courses all about the outdoors - things like agriculture, animal science, and forestry. The college has been around for ages and has campuses across the North of England.

The wildlife park itself opened in 2017. It's home to over 100 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and more, many of which are threatened in the wild. But it's more than just an animal collection; it's a living classroom. Being part of the college means students get incredible hands-on experience, working with the animals and learning about conservation right there on site. The park serves as a hub for the local community, bringing in around 20,000 visitors a year and hosting school trips and workshops. It's a place where education and conservation come together, inspiring the next generation of animal experts and creating a space for everyone to connect with nature. This link between the college and the conservation park is what makes its approach so special and clearly a winning formula, as recognised by the Irish association.

Fancy a visit this summer?

After hearing all that, you might be keen to see this award-winning place for yourself. The good news is that the Wildlife and Conservation Park is open for the summer season until Sunday, 31st August. It's open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm, with the last entry at 4pm. It's a great spot for a family day out, with free parking, free entry for kids under three, and an on-site cafe and playground for when you need a break from all the animal spotting. It's a chance to see the incredible work they do up close and meet some of the 100-plus species that call the conservation park home. Seeing the result of all that hard work, recognised by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, makes a visit even more special.