A MOUNTAIN of discarded Christmas trees is being used to provide some extra winter shelter – as well as added fun and stimulation – for animals and birds at the region’s newest visitor attraction.

More than 400 festive trees have been donated to the zoo at the Kirkley Hall college campus near Ponteland, Northumberland.

They have flooded in from local businesses and families after an appeal was launched by staff at the zoo, which opened eight months ago.

The trees are being used to give the animals and birds additional cover and shelter in their enclosures, and also provide them with extra variety in their daily lives.

Zoo staff say they have been overwhelmed by the response to their request, which resulted in about 200 Christmas trees being delivered from the Heighley Gate garden centre and more than 100 being collected by horsebox and trailer from the Dobbies garden centre at Ponteland. More than 100 others were brought in by members of the public.

Yesterday Steven Sykes, animal centre resource manager at the zoo, said: “I can’t believe the generous response from the public and local businesses, in particular Heighley Gate and Dobbies garden centres, to our Christmas tree appeal.

“The trees will make a massive difference to the animal enclosures during the cold winter months. We have used them to create bird shelters in our wetlands aviary and tied them into enclosures for animals like lemurs to climb on.

“As well as providing additional shelter, it is all about enrichment, giving the animals a novel stimulus and keeping them occupied. The Christmas trees are something new for them to play with, and the emus have even started eating them.

“It makes things better for the animals and makes the zoo look better and more colourful.

“We would like to say a big thank you on behalf of the animals to everyone who donated their trees.”

The zoo is home to more than 100 species of animal, including emus, wallabies, marmosets, pygmy goats, alpacas, meerkats and many more.

Its attractions also include an aquatics centre, river and forest trail, children’s activities, play and picnic areas, garden walks and a team room, and it was officially opened last May by BBC TV countryside presenter Adam Henson.

The zoo was developed as a learning environment for students at Kirkley Hall, which is part of the Northumberland College and provides courses relating to the rural economy, animal management and horticulture.

It is also a visitor attraction which opens at weekends and during school holidays, allowing people to meet the zoo keepers and learn about the animals and their habitats. For more details go to www.kirkleyhallzoo.co.uk