World War Zoo gardens facts for kids
World War Zoo Gardens is a special project at Newquay Zoo. It's like a time machine that takes us back to World War II! In 2009, the zoo created a garden just like the "Dig for Victory" gardens people made during the war.
Many zoos and plant gardens across Britain and Europe had similar gardens during and after World War II. This project even won a national award from BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) in 2011!
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Why Have World War Zoo Gardens?
This project helps us learn important lessons from the past. It shows how zoos and people dealt with shortages during wartime. Things like fuel and food were rationed, meaning people had limited amounts. The government also collected old items to reuse them.
Today, we face new challenges like climate change and running out of some resources. The World War Zoo Gardens help us think about these issues. They teach us about sustainability, composting, and recycling.
Growing Food for Animals
The food grown in the garden is used for the zoo animals. It helps feed them and gives them interesting new smells to explore. Other zoos, like Durrell Wildlife Park and Paignton Zoo, also grow food for their animals.
Learning from History
The World War Zoo Garden started in 2009. This was 70 years after World War II began on September 3, 1939. When the war started, many zoos in Britain closed. Some animals were sadly put down to prevent them from escaping during expected air raids.
Researchers studied old newspapers, official records, and stories from zoo staff. They looked at zoos like London Zoo, Chester Zoo, Bristol Zoo, and Paignton Zoo.
How Zoos Helped During the War
Zoo keepers at London Zoo even helped set up "Pig Clubs." They fed and fattened pigs using food scraps. The London police had a pig club in empty cages at London Zoo! The usual animals had been moved to Whipsnade Zoo for safety.
London Zoo staff also planted a large garden plot with tomato seeds from America. They even held an exhibition called "Off The Ration." This show encouraged visitors to grow their own food and raise animals.
In 2011, the World War Zoo Gardens won a BIAZA award. It was recognized for teaching people and helping animals through the garden.
Zoos and Gardens in World War I
Our research also looks at how World War I affected zoos and plant gardens. Many male staff members joined the army or worked in factories. Sadly, many were injured or died.
For the first time, women worked as temporary staff to replace the men. This happened again in World War II.
War Memorials at Zoos
Some zoos have special memorials for their staff who died in the wars. You can find them at London Zoo and the former Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester. After World War II, more names were added to memorials at Kew Gardens and London Zoo.
Zoos in Britain During World War II
In September 1939, British zoos closed for several weeks. This was like many other entertainment places. Zoos also prepared for air raids. Some staff and animals moved to safer country areas. For example, some London Zoo animals went to Whipsnade Zoo.
However, some zoos reopened after a few weeks. They helped boost people's spirits and kept the zoos running financially. The big air raids, known as the Blitz, didn't happen until late 1940. More bombings and rocket attacks followed in 1944.
Challenges for Zoos
Belfast Zoo was hit by bombings in 1941. Larger animals had to be put down to prevent them from escaping during air raids. But some animals, like Sheila the elephant, were moved to safety by staff every night.
Zoos struggled with shortages of everything. Food, fuel, and building materials were all rationed. It was hard to get glass for repairs. Chester Zoo found clever solutions. In 1944, they bought old concrete structures, like pill boxes and tank traps, to build new enclosures.
Many zoo staff joined the military. This led to more women working as zoo keepers for the first time. Some were even "Land Girls" from the Women's Land Army. June Mottershead, whose father founded Chester Zoo, wrote a book about her wartime experiences there.
Artifacts and Global Challenges
Newquay Zoo has a collection of wartime items. These show what daily life was like for zoo staff, animals, and visitors during the war.
Zoos around the world faced similar problems. They couldn't get new animals or exchange them for breeding. Food was scarce, and enclosures were damaged by bombs and fires. Zoo directors used salvaged materials to repair and build new homes for the animals.
Zoos in Europe During World War II
Some zoos in Germany, like Berlin Zoo and Dresden Zoo, were badly damaged by Allied air raids in 1944. Other zoos, such as Warsaw Zoo and Budapest Zoo, were almost completely destroyed during the fighting. They had to be rebuilt after the war.
"Dig For Victory" Gardens
Governments encouraged people to create "Dig for Victory" gardens. In Britain, the Ministry of Food launched a famous campaign in 1941. They used propaganda and radio shows to get people gardening.
Cookbooks from famous chefs like Marguerite Patten helped people learn how to use the food they grew.
Victory Gardens in the US
In the United States, these gardens were called "Victory gardens." They were popular during World War I and came back after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Growing a Victory Garden was seen as a patriotic duty. It helped with food rationing, which started across the US in 1942.
Today, some botanic gardens grow old types of fruits and vegetables from the 1940s. This helps preserve these historic plant varieties.
