MUCH has happened at the zoo this year that we could never have foreseen; even being brought to the brink of survival when lockdown hit.

Committing to the future made us stronger and brought unexpected bonuses: improved enclosures, our new marine tanks, and ongoing developments for 2021 and beyond.

And of course, the incredible kindness of our visitors and supporters, who have adapted to new ways of visiting, with pre-booked tickets, takeaway refreshments, and distancing.

The Mail: One of our “Christmas” spiders!One of our “Christmas” spiders!

This year I’ve also been trying to magic up some extras - a talk, a treasure-hunt, something extra for the children, just to show our appreciation. So, starting when we reopen today, we are going to host an “advent adventure” during December.

Call me Robert the Bruce, but I was inspired by a spider! We have several species in the zoo, from tarantulas to ‘Nephila’: six inches, giant, spinning wonders who arrived this year.

And it popped into my head: The Eastern European fable of the Christmas spider. Legend says a poor family who couldn’t afford any gifts Christmas cheer were helped by a spider who spun his web up a fir tree, which had grown in the cottage’s dirt floor.

Waking to a glittering wonderland, the webs magically turned to gold and silver, rewarding the family’s honest hard toil. This is the origin of the sparkly tinsel we decorate our own trees with.

And there was my arachnid inspiration! So, I’ve been creating an advent nature trail of bio-degradable, sustainable decorating materials around the zoo, for any visitors to collect as they go round. The idea is families can take them back to the café and decorate a bauble together, to take home and hang on their own tree.

The Mail: Don’t be afraid!Don’t be afraid!

It’s a tiny gift, but I hope a way of saying ‘thank you’ for everyone’s support and patience as we’ve stayed safe this year, and learned the value of much above money: kindness, family, and the importance of working in harmony with nature.

And if it helps people find fascination rather than fear in hardworking spiders- who do vital work for the planet in removing pests and disease- well, that’s not bad spin!