Dozens of people gathered outside the entrance on Saturday to watch the last visitors pass through the doors and say goodbye to Clifton’s much-loved landmark. Many also took pictures of a new sign placed at the entrance gate which reads: ‘On 3 September 2022 Bristol Zoo, the world’s oldest provincial zoo, closed after 186 years. Thanks for the memories.” The crowd gave three cheers for the staff as they took a group photo in front of the plaque. The plaque at Bristol Zoo detailing its closure (Beresford Hodge/PA) (PA Wire) Jade Money, 30, has worked at Bristol Zoo for nine years and the retail assistant has been on maternity leave for the past year, returning on the last day. She told the PA news agency: “I was crying all morning, we just had to go back (to the office) and get on with the day. I just keep getting goose pimples from it. It’s so emotional. “(I will miss) the lions roaring every morning – when I came to work in the morning they were roaring. I will miss this, waking us all up ready for our day. “I never thought this place would close, I thought I’d retire here.” Visitors to Bristol Zoo on its last day open to the public (Beresford Hodge/PA) (PA Wire) Steve Jenkins, 64, lives in Wales but grew up in Bristol and has fond memories of visiting the zoo as a child. He told PA: “I was born and brought up in the east end of the city and in those days we didn’t have a car so it was a jaunt to go almost anywhere in Bristol. “There was a bus that ran from near the house to outside the zoo gates and when I was quite young and had an even younger brother, mum would take us out for the day. “Of course with the gardens, it was a lovely day and for a child it was quite magical.” The last visitor leaves Bristol Zoo on its last day open to the public (Beresford Hodge/PA) (PA Wire) Mike Burghall, 39, an IT consultant who lives in Bristol, was with his five-year-old daughter Florence. He said: “We’ve come a long way since Florence was born. We used to have a subscription, but we don’t this year. We’ve been members for most of the years because Florence is into animals and my wife and I, it’s good whether we come in for the day or just go shopping.” Florence said her favorite memory is when the family picnicked on the lawn. She said: “This is my favorite zoo I’ve ever been to, and when I was little I loved playing with the hippos – peekaboo – and I also loved seeing the seals and penguins. I’m very sad that it’s going to close.” Head of public engagement Simon Garrett, 56, who has worked at the zoo for 32 years and set up his first email address, said: “I don’t mean to cry but I’ve lost it once or twice this morning. I will be completely honest.” He added: “It’s really mixed feelings. It’s exciting, I love seeing the zoo as it is, but then again it’s going to be 5.30 and then I’ll probably miss it.” The zoo, which has been on the site since 1836, making it the fifth oldest in the world, had customers queuing at 7.45am. when the doors opened at 9am. Bristol Zoo staff gather for a group photo (Beresford Hodge/PA) (PA Wire) It has opened an hour earlier for the past three days due to an increased number of visitors. The zoo has had more than 90 million visitors and will move in 2024 to a new site at the Wild Place Project, near junction 17 of the M5 motorway. The Clifton site is 12 acres and the new one is 136 acres.
