We aim to inspire an interest in nature and encourage curiosity in these amazing animals. Maybe even conquer a fear? Our animals are very used to travel and interaction with all ages, so you might discover an appreciation for a creature you never expected. 

Our animals range from familiar cute and fluffy ones to unique and exotic critters.

Settings where this can be done:

This is our most versatile session. It can be adapted for any environment, as long as animal welfare is taken into consideration. Nurseries, schools (any age group), SEN groups, collage, parties, corporate events, fayres and fates, local gatherings and care homes. 

At its core:

This session involves a range of 6-8 animals going around the group one at a time. Each are introduced and facts are given about them. We always endeavour to bring the most appropriate animals for your group, if there is anything we need to be aware of, then please let us know before the session. We try to bring an animal from each major group (eg: mammal, reptile, ect), though we cannot promise to bring a particular animal, as we are limited to what we have available, and any other factors which might prevent that animals from traveling on the day.
 

‘Meet the Animals’ aims to be a calmer session, both due to the welfare of the animals and to the benefit of learning. If the group is too noisy or uncontrolled, certain animals may not be able to make an appearance due to noise sensitivity. It will also impact the learning of others. While we will always try to calm the room, crowd control is not at the core of our responsibilities, and we would expect those leading the group to bare some responsibility in this. 

Before we start:

We only need about 10 minutes to set up, so it won’t take too long to get started. 

We begin by introducing ourselves and talking through our guidelines. These are:

Please keep the noise down for the animals
Don’t feel forced to interact with an animals if you don’t want to
Please try to remain in your seat or not run around near the animals
Wash your hands after the session is done

These rules are in place for the welfare of the animals and to maintain calm amongst the group. We understand that these may be difficult for some people, so we ask that these individuals are given support by yourselves where needed. 
 

Structure of the session:

After the brief introduction, each animal will be taken out one at a time. The group is introduced to the animal and given instructions on how we interact with them. The animal is then taken around the group, spending time with each individual. 

If you are hosting a birthday party, the animal will come to see the birthday person first. They can also have some individual photos, should you wish. 

Photographs are welcome to be taken, though please be mindful of other people’s children or any other guidelines which may be in place, depending on the hosting venue. 

As we go, information is given about each animal. These facts include: Species, habitat, diet, behaviour and more. If you are studying a particular topic, such as adaptation or life cycles, then this can be the focus of the session. 
 

How far can we travel?

We are based on the coast of West Somerset, near to Minehead. We are happy to cover Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Bristol, or any other surrounding counties. We ask for an additional £20 to cover fuel costs, if you are over 30 miles from our location.
 

What happens when you book?

When you reach out to us, we will collect the details we need to know about your event. 

We will email you- A copy of the session overview (the information above), Terms of service, Safety sheet and Invoice.

What we ask of you:

All we need from you is a table to set up our animals and a power socket. If you don’t have access to a power source, that’s ok! If we could instead have some hot water, that is fine too. This is to keep our animals at a comfortable temperature. 

We also need a space which accommodates us and the size of the group. We prefer indoors, but outdoors is fine too, weather and temperature depending. We ask that this place is secure. If this is to take place during hot weather, we ask that there is some ventilation available, as extreme heat can be dangerous for some species. 
 

Allergies:

Furry animals which trigger a reaction to those with a fur allergy will be present at each session, unless requested otherwise. An allergy warning is given during the animal’s introduction. 

Animals who require a calcium supplement (usually snails) are given this in the form of cuttlefish. Trace amounts of this may be carried on their body and may affect those with extremely sensitive shellfish allergies. 

Most of our animals have bedding soil or substrate made of coconut fibre or coconut husk. They may be carrying traces of this on their body.  

If this session is what you are looking for, then please see our contact page for ways to book with us.