Volunteers at Paignton Zoo are taking on a series of creative challenges.

Science staff, animal keepers and gardeners have created five different animal enrichment workshops to run during 2012.

Dubbed the Animal Enrichment Pentathlon, the aim is for volunteers to learn how to make a series of new playthings for the Zoo’s animals.

The five creative challenges are knitting enrichment devices using natural fibres; weaving baskets and puzzle feeders; plaiting leaves into baskets and other shapes for feeding; knotting monkey’s fists and enrichment balls using natural fibre ropes; and making clay pot and fibre-covered insect hotels.

The first of these was the knitting workshop, held on Monday 6^th February. It was led by Deborah Judd, of NeighbourWorks, a social enterprise using knitting as a way of raising money for community development in Devon. The knitters used wool donated by Rowan, the international hand-knitting company.

The workshops will train volunteers who will then be able to pass on their skills to others. Zoo scientist Holly Farmer said: “We want to build up a skills bank to support environmental enrichment around the Zoo.

“The Animal Enrichment Pentathlon is also good for our volunteer community, giving them new activities that can take place in a sociable environment during our quieter winter months.”

Environmental enrichment encourages natural feeding and foraging behaviours, stimulates mental and physical activity and provokes curiosity using unusual objects and situations. It can range from puzzle feeders and wind chimes to unusual scents and cardboard boxes with food hidden inside. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has won awards for its enrichment work, hosting a regional conference on the subject in 2006 and a major international conference in 2009.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 0844 474 2222.