Twycross Zoo has purchased 14 hectares of additional land to expand its current four-hectare nature reserve and create a substantial new habitat for wildlife.
The expanded nature reserve will be the size of around nine football pitches, and rather than using the land for traditional zoo developments, Twycross Zoo will dedicate the space entirely to nature.
Over several years, the site will be transformed from agricultural land into a diverse mix of habitats, including woodland, wildflower meadows and wetland environments.
Eventually, the land will provide vital homes for native species such as harvest mice and rare butterflies, like the white-letter hairstreak.
"This is about giving nature the space it needs to recover and thrive," said Rebecca Biddle, chief conservation officer at Twycross Zoo.
"Using species specific habitat management techniques, we will create conditions that allow wildlife to flourish, and a natural space in which wildlife is protected."
To mark David Attenborough's 100th birthday year, Twycross Zoo has planted the first 100 trees on the new land.
"It is even more special that, in Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday year, the man who inspired so many of us to love and protect wildlife, has been celebrated in the first chapter of our new reserve – helping to create a legacy for future generations of both people, and wildlife," Biddle added.
The project is part of Twycross Zoo's wider efforts to protect 30 percent of its land for nature by 2030, aligning with the UK government's '30by30' commitment to reverse biodiversity loss.
As well as expanding its nature reserve, Tywcross Zoo is developing a £25 million global conservation centre, set to open in 2027.
The facility represents the largest investment in the zoo's history, and will serve as a hub for its conservation efforts, scientific research, and education programmes.
Images courtesy of Twycross Zoo
