Planning a pruning this Bank Holiday? ‘Skip the Tip’ and give your garden waste to the zoo instead!

30th April 2026

Planning a garden glow-up this bank holiday? With the recent sunshine sending hedges and borders into overdrive, many households will be getting busy with the secateurs at the weekend: trimming, pruning, and clearing their outdoor space to get everything summer ready. But before you bag up those offcuts for the tip, why not give them a second life as a feast for some very grateful zoo residents?

Drusillas Park is calling on the local community to “skip the tip” and donate fresh garden cuttings instead. What might seem like green waste to you is, in fact, a nutritious and highly sought-after treat for many of the zoo’s 800 animals.

Elysia Monro, one of the keepers at the Sussex zoo, explains: “After the spell of warm weather we’ve been having, everyone’s gardens have gone wild with growth, and we know lots of people will be cutting things back this weekend. What many don’t realise is that these plants are incredibly valuable to us. They form an essential part of a healthy, varied diet for a wide range of our animals.”

And some of the zoo’s residents have particularly big appetites. “People are always surprised by just how much vegetation animals can eat,” Elysia adds. “Our red pandas, Maja and Mulan, can get through around 4kg of bamboo every single day - that’s roughly 40,000 leaves! While garden cuttings might usually end up at the tip or on a bonfire, here they’re a real delicacy.”

A variety of species benefit from donated greenery, including sloths, lemurs, capybaras, and several primates. While the zoo grows its own bamboo on-site, donations help diversify their supply - especially rarer varieties like black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), which keepers describe as “panda candy.”

Building up a supply of plant material also helps the zoo manage its own resources more sustainably, allowing their plantations time to regenerate ahead of the winter months.

Sustainability is also a key focus for the zoo. “We’re always looking at ways to reduce waste and operate more responsibly,” says Elysia. “We already work with local businesses to reuse surplus produce, use natural materials for enrichment, and ensure none of our waste goes to landfill. Inviting the community to donate garden cuttings is another great way to make a difference together.”

Animals particularly enjoy hawthorn, ash, sycamore, willow, and several varieties of bamboo, including Phyllostachys, Phyllostachys nigra, and Phyllostachys bissetii. However, red pandas can be a little picky! Keepers advise any green-fingered gardeners that bamboo donations should be freshly cut on the same day, with lush, juicy leaves that retain their high water content. Bamboo left in the sun for too long can dry out, turning brown and crispy - something the pandas aren’t a fan of. The animals also can’t eat plants that has been treated with pesticides, something anyone wishing to donate should also bear in mind.

So, as you head out to tackle your garden this bank holiday, consider swapping a trip to the tip for a drop-off at the zoo. Fresh cuttings - ideally trimmed the same day or within 24 hours - are welcome daily between 9am and 5pm. To arrange a donation, please email [email protected]. If you’re unsure whether your garden waste is suitable, feel free to send a photo to the keepers and they’ll be happy to advise. Your garden leftovers could be the highlight of an animal’s day!

Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am. For more information, please telephone 01323 874100 or visit www.drusillas.co.uk