In response to the recent Government updates including the operational uncertainties businesses face going forward, one zoo in Shropshire has been forced to abandon its annual festive celebration.
However it leaves the star of the seasonal show (aside the main the red suit) out of a job this year. Whisper the donkey, who made headlines in 2015 when he ate through the Christmas tree lights less than 24 hours before the official turn-on, will be having a quiet one, like the majority of us, this year. The annual Christmas show at Hoo involves cheery children, animal antics, impromptu scenes attributing to a fluid script narrated by Will Dorrell, Partner at Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom. But the barn will be deserted this year. There’ll be no presents under the Christmas tree and Whisper will have to wait a whole year to take centre-stage again.
Hoo Farm, the county’s only zoo has been running a Christmas event for 30 years and 2020 will be only be the second time in the operation’s history it has had to forego the Christmas offering.
“It has been a difficult decision to make. We know how much people love Christmas at Hoo so we’re already thinking of a virt-yule event ” said Will.