Christmas is a time for giving – and East Midlands Airport (EMA) and their friends at DHL have got together to spread some festive cheer for customers, staff and the animals at Twycross Zoo.
The zoo is just over 20 miles away from EMA and the organisations have forged a friendship since old hoses were donated by the airport’s fire crew earlier this year. These were used by the zoo to create swings, hammocks and balls to hide food inside for the apes at Twycross.
When DHL, whose major UK hub is based at EMA, heard about it they realised they had plenty of cargo netting available, which is ideal for creating hammocks and food holders inside enclosures.
Meanwhile EMA’s fire crew have gone one step further and will be handing over the keys to a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck which, after being used as a general utility vehicle carrying fire-related equipment at the airport since 2011, is being replaced by a newer model. It’s something zoo keepers said they needed to carry hay, netting, food supplies and anything needed in the management and upkeep of the 100-acre site.
The truck, along with a pallet of DHL’s cargo netting, will be part of a special delivery to the zoo on Monday 23 December – just in time for Christmas.
EMA Firefighter Julian Essex, who has organised the donation of the truck and liaised with DHL colleagues, said he’s delighted to be able to help the charity zoo again.
“When we handed over old hoses for the first time earlier this year, we realised there’s lots of material on the airport site that the zoo could make use of, so it’s great that DHL have stepped up and donated cargo netting that’s no longer in use,” he said.
“When speaking to Twycross they mentioned that our vehicle was exactly the sort of thing they need to transport hay bales and other things to the enclosures around the zoo. The vehicle has been an integral part of the response role of the fire service at East Midlands now for the last 13 years and as we are replacing it with a newer model, we are so happy to see it go on to its new life at Twycross Zoo. It’s lovely that we’ve been able to make it all happen just in time for Christmas too!”
Margaret Barker from DHL said: “It’s a great feeling to enhance the habitat for the apes at the zoo, helping create an environment that emulates climbing the treetops in the wild. It’s also incredibly positive that this innovative use of our old cargo netting prevents this material going to landfill, giving it a second life. We’re delighted to be making this delivery at Christmas and looking forward to continuing to work together.”
A spokesperson for Twycross Zoo said: “We’re so grateful to both East Midlands Airport and DHL for their generous donation. As a registered charity, it means a lot to us to be supported by other local organisations, and both the cargo netting and pick-up truck will make a great deal of difference to the animals we care for and the day-to-day of our zoo keepers.”
