STAFF at Shaldon Wildlife Trust have been in specialist training to make the zoo more accessible.

The team has now completed sighted guide partnership training with Guide Dogs UK which will enable sight impaired visitors a better experience.

Also because the zoo cares for highly sensitive, rare, and endangered species in close proximity, assistance dogs cannot be allowed on site too ensure the safety and welfare of both the dogs and the resident animals.

A spokesman said: ‘But we never want that to stand in the way of someone experiencing Shaldon Wildlife Trust.

‘That’s why our staff have undertaken this specialised training.

‘We want to ensure that blind and visually impaired visitors can navigate our unique woodland site safely, confidently, and with an immersive, expert guide by their side, from detailed descriptions of our animals’ antics to being safe led around our sometimes challenging site.’