Stockport Grammar Raises Funds for Chester Zoo
It has been a busy time for the Stockport Grammar School’s Eco-Committee – earlier in the year they handed in a petition to 10 Downing Street focused on reducing carbon emissions and planting trees; recently they produced a book to help Chester Zoo survive.
The UK’s biggest zoo faced permanent closure due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place – 97% of the attraction’s revenue comes from visitors.
The zoo put out a plea for help from the public with their Chief Operating Officer Jamie Christon saying at the time: “We’ve tried to stay positive during this pandemic. Our conservationists have continued to prevent extinction, our virtual days have cheered up the nation and our learning resources have helped out thousands of home schooling families. We wanted to remain a beacon of hope but Chester Zoo is very much fighting for its future.”
In response Stockport Grammar School’s Junior and Senior Eco-Committee came up with an imaginative way of raising funds for Chester Zoo by creating a book filled with pictures, poems and experiences relating to the attraction.
Alastair Thorley, Eco Schools Co-ordinator at Stockport Grammar School says, “The message which permeated the pupils’ work was that Chester Zoo is a place where families come together. The importance of this cannot be overstated.”
Pupils from Pre-Reception right up to the Upper Sixth highlighted the impact that Chester Zoo has had on so many of the SGS community, with staff members also sharing their thoughts. Over 100 submissions were received in response to the question “What does Chester Zoo mean to me?” All the material was then collated into a book which has now been published.
All proceeds from purchases of the book will help the zoo to stay open and you can order your copy here.
What a fabulous idea and bravo to Stockport Grammar School’s Eco-Committee to be so pro-actie on the subjects of the environment and animal welfare.