FAQ’s

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We are ready to take your questions!

GENERAL

Are you insured?

Yes- to meet legal requirements Animal Workshops has Public Liability Insurance for £5million. You are very welcome to ask for documentation of this if required.

Can I choose which animals come to my booking?

The welfare of our animals is paramount and due to the nature of livestock we cannot guarantee which animals will be available on any particular day. However, you are welcome to make ‘special requests’ and we will do our best to accommodate them. Of course if there is an animal you would prefer we didn’t bring (e.g rat, spider, snake) please let us know and we promise NOT to bring it. You can tell us at any time before we visit.

Will it make a mess?

No- we use protective mats etc. and clean and freshen the area thoroughly before we leave to ensure your home/school/work space is as we found it.

How long in advance do I need to book?

We are in great demand, especially at weekends, so to avoid disappoint please give us as much notice as possible (preferably at least 2 months). However, even if you think you’ve left it a little late please ask, you may be lucky and find we have the date you want still available.

How do I make a booking?

Please contact us by phone, email or using the booking form on our Contact Us page to check availability. We are happy to hold a date for you as a provisional booking (without obligation) for 7 days. We require a £100 deposit to secure the booking. The balance may then be paid any time up to a week before your booking.

Can you provide entertainment for corporate functions?

Yes- our Animal Encounter presentations and our static Mobile Zoo display are both ideal for corporate events. These are charged at our Organisations rates. Please see out Organisations page for details.

Which forms of payment do you accept?

We accept payment by cheque or bank transfer. (For Organisations and Schools only: we will provide a pro-forma invoice).  A non-refundable deposit of £100 will secure your party booking.

PARTIES

How much space do I need to provide?

Obviously the bigger the better! You may like to hire a hall or similar venue if there will be lots of guests. However, we can usually organise a brilliant party in the space of a normal living room. If available you might like to consider another room for party games (in good weather we can play these games in the garden!). It is also preferable to have a separate eating area away from where the animals will be.

Are party invitations included in the price?

Yes- when your party is confirmed by email you will also receive a unique personalised invitation which you can print out and send to all your guests. If you don’t have email or a working printer we can post these out to you at no extra cost.

Can you provide party bags and food?

Yes- Snack boxes, Goody Bags, Sweets and Adoption Certificates are included in our Gold package. However, all of these things can also be purchased separately with our Bronze and Silver Packages. Please see our Party page for details.

What is the maximum number of guests I can invite to a party?

Depending on the party package you have chosen there will be 10, 15, 20 or 25 children included in the price, but please remember that this number includes the host child and any siblings, cousins etc. who will be present (except babies under 2 years of age). We can accommodate a maximum 25 children.

Can you do adult parties?

Yes- why not? You don’t have to be young to enjoy animals! Animal Encounters are perfect for every age and we are regularly asked to provide the entertainment at 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th etc. birthday parties! Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.

Can you provide entertainment for corporate functions?

Yes- standard Animal Encounter presentations and our static Mobile Zoo display are both ideal for larger events. These are charge at our Organisations rates. Please see out Organisations page for details.

Bespoke packages are also available. Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.

SCHOOLS

Do you have a Risk Assessment?

Yes- please feel free to ask us for a copy! We also have a comprehensive Health and Safety policy and full Health and Safety training.

What do we provide for a workshop?

We provide all materials, and equipment needed for our workshops so the only things you will need to provide are hand-washing facilities…and children!

Which workshops are suitable for which keystages?

Most of our workshops can be tailored to suit the level of your children. Please feel free to contact us about your particular requirements.

What sort of activities can we expect?

Every Activity Workshop is different depending on the topic and age of your children. Some examples:

Habitats- Design and create the perfect habitat for a skunk. Think about what the animal will need, where would he live in the wild? Choose the correct food and bedding. Make toys for enrichment. Will he be safe and warm? Will he get enough exercise? Now lets put the skunk into his new environment and see if he’s happy!

Minibeasts- Lets create our very own Minibeast using all the information we have learnt.

Responsible pet ownership- Do you know exactly what your pet needs to keep it happy, healthy and safe? Create the perfect environment for her!

Please remember that these are examples only. Actual activities may vary due to the nature of the livestock and the age and ability of your children. For details of other activities please contact us.

Can the whole school attend the workshops?

The maximum number of sessions we can accommodate in a full day is 3 (session time is split equally between Animal Encounter and Activity Workshop). There is a maximum of 1 class per session. If you would like more than 3 classes to enjoy the Activity Workshops you will need to book more than one full day. Obviously the fewer the children the more time they will have with the animals and participating in the activity workshops. However, we can accommodate more classes during Animal Encounters. Animal Encounters are usually a half day visit but you may also book both morning and afternoon sessions at the special day rate. If you would like more than 5 classes to experience the animals, why not book our Mobile Zoo Experience, details can be found on our Organisations page.

Can you accommodate children with special educational needs?

Yes- we operate a ‘Welcome All’ policy and your presenter is trained to understand SEN requirements. Our Sensory Sessions are recommended for groups of children with special needs. There is a maximum of 20 children at one time. However, we are happy to make our Activity Workshops inclusive to those in mainstream education and endeavour to offer differentiated activities at all times.

Other questions

If we’ve still not answered your question please don’t hesitate to contact us by email or on 07790 465 266.