Food and drink awards are nothing unusual for Devon – except when the consumers are animals.

Shaldon Wildlife Trust has been recognised for its Zoo Food Project, in which plants are grown on site to feed its four-legged residents.

The initiative was runner-up in the Horticulture category of the 2026 British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Awards.

Shaldon Wildlife Trust’s Director Zak Showell said: "I'm delighted that the efforts of our Zoo Food volunteers have been recognised in the annual BIAZA awards.

“It shows how hard work and dedication can pay off, not only for a local charity but also on the national stage."

The Zoo Food project was started last year by Shaldon Wildlife Trust volunteers Harry Coleman and Jo Mackenzie.

They could see that it would make sense for the zoo to grow its own vegetables, herbs and specialist plants for the animals in its care, rather than buying produce that would need to be packed and transported to Shaldon.

They began by cultivating a spare patch of land at the zoo’s site at The Ness, and later expanded the project on to two Shaldon Allotment sites.

Zak said: “From providing the perfect heritage tomatoes for our lemurs, to fresh, nutritious pickings for our smaller residents, this project lowers our carbon footprint, saves vital charity funds, and gives our animals the freshest, healthiest diets possible.

“Our Zoo Food volunteers pour so much love, muscle, and green-thumb expertise into keeping our grounds both beautiful and functional. To have their hard work recognised on a national level means the world to us.”

The BIAZA award was the second piece of good news for the Shaldon Wildlife Trust in just a few days. It has also achieved the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) accreditation, which meant meeting high standards of animal welfare practices, veterinary care, conservation and safety standards.