Zoo to sell animal poo as garden fertiliser

The fertiliser will be collected from hoofed animals at Sewerby Hall's zoo

An East Yorkshire zoo has said it will sell animal poo as a natural fertiliser to help fund its own improvement projects.

Sewerby Hall, near Bridlington, is gathering the waste from its pigs, donkeys, llamas and alpacas because it contains nutrients and also acts as a natural pest deterrent, the zoo claims.

It will be packaged in recycled animal feed bags and the profits will go towards improving the site.

Marie Gascoigne, general manager of Sewerby Hall, said: ''The compostable waste will create a nutrient-rich fertiliser for visitors to make the most of whilst contributing to the eco-friendly mission of the venue."

She said: ''All of the funds raised through this waste recycling scheme will go towards zoo improvement projects, providing the highest quality food, enclosures and treatments for the much-loved animals.''

The Grade I listed hall and gardens sits on cliffs overlooking the North Sea and was built as a country house in the late 18th Century.

It was sold to the local council in 1934 and opened as a visitor attraction.

The zoo is home to a number of animals, including a colony of Humboldt penguins.

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