A much-loved zoo is asking visitors to rummage among their pictures and memories to help celebrate a significant milestone, and the chance to win a special anniversary reward.
In 1992, Milnthorpe's Lakeland Wildlife Oasis opened its doors for the first time, and over the last 30 years, has captivated and educated visitors with its furred, feathered and finned inhabitants, as well as contributing to many worldwide conservation programmes.
As part of celebrating this milestone, the 'little zoo with lots to do' is asking visitors to dig out pictures and tell stories of their past visits, which will then be displayed at the zoo as a digital and physical wall of memories throughout the summer.
Zoo founder Jo Marsden said: "We often have parents telling us how much they loved visiting as children themselves, which made us think what a perfect time to capture the zoo's legacy, across 30 years of changes and challenges, as a thank you to our loyal supporters."
The best ten photos and submissions will be rewarded with an invitati
on to the zoo's anniversary party, on Saturday, July 9, which includes entry to the zoo and hot food from the barbecue for the people in the photo.
Jo said: "We’ve already received some great pictures and memories.
"We'd love pictures of children visiting the zoo 'then and now', perhaps a scowling three-year-old who’s now an ecologist, or a merchant banker, and it will be great to meet up with some of them, now they are grown up, at our party"
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"You forget how quickly things change, I've found pictures of our family standing onsite when it was just an abandoned nursery glasshouse, looking a bit shellshocked at the work ahead of us!
"It's been an incredible 30 years, and with the natural world under threat more than ever, we're determined to continue making a difference over the next 30 years."
The Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is open for voyages of discovery seven days a week, 10am until 5pm.
To keep up with all their animals and Summer of Celebration events, go to www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk, and check out 'Lakeland Wildlife Oasis' on Facebook for daily updates and pictures.
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