If your loved one was passionate about animals and conservation, then donating to ZSL in their memory is a truly special way to remember them and celebrate their life.
Your support will help us to care for animals in our world-leading zoos, funding vital conservation projects in the field, and supporting our scientists with their ground-breaking research.
Peter Killen chose to support us in memory of his late wife, Julie. Here he tells us why ZSL means so much to him:
"We lived in Eaton Bray and could see the zoo from our house. We both had memberships to Whipsnade so when our son, Nathan, was a baby and just wouldn't settle, we would take him in his pram and just walk around the zoo until he fell asleep.
When Nathan was a toddler, the zoo was a great place to go to as a family, and there is a lovely photo of Julie and Nathan at the zoo when he was 2 years old. Some of Julie's happiest and most precious memories were of our family trips to the zoo when Nathan was a child.
When Nathan was about 7 or 8 years old he got into karate and our visits to the zoo dwindled, so we gave up our memberships for quite a few years.
About 7 years ago when I was coming up to retirement, we started to go to the zoo again and we renewed our memberships. It's a beautiful place to go and visit, and have a cup of tea and a price of cake at the Viewpoint, overlooking the white rhinos on one side, and the downs on the other.
It was a beautiful place to visit, and after Covid when it first re-opened, it was a great place to go, to get out of the house. Whipsnade was very special to us, and when Julie's health took a turn for the worse, she let me know that she would like to have her ashes scattered there.
Toward the end of her life, Julie was cared for a St Francis Hospice in Berkhamsted. They were wonderful and couldn't do enough for their patients.
When Julie arrived at the hospice in February 2023, she was initially unable to leave her room, but as she became stronger, it became her wish to visit the zoo once more. One Friday, Ray (Head of Spiritual Care) said to Julie, "I'm going to take you to the zoo on Monday". She could hardly believe it, but the wellbeing team at the hospice worked to make it happen, and Ray drive the ambulance himself.
Julie's favourite animals were the short-clawed otters, so we made sure to take her to see them, and we also saw the elephants and giraffes (although we only saw one giraffe's head poking out, as it was a cold day). Getting out made such a difference to Julie, she said at the time that it was "absolutely fantastic".
Julie had asked me to scatter her ashes at Whipsnade because it was so special to us, so when the time came, Nathan and I went to the Zoo on what would have been Julie's birthday, and scattered her ashes on the slops near the Viewpoint, overlooking Eaton Bray. Nathan and I were able to take some private time while we scattered Julie's ashes in the place she loved so much.
I still enjoy visiting Whipsnade and having a coffee at the Viewpoint. I feel close to Julie while I'm there, and it's wonderful to sit and look out across the valley on a sunny day.
Because Whipsnade has been such a special place to our family, I wanted to support them in Julie's memory. People have asked me why I wanted to donate to the zoo, because they view the zoo as an animal prison, but I told them that they are not looking and seeing what Whipsnade really does. I wanted to support their work in conservation, and the goal of returning animals to the wild. I was delighted to donate to Whipsnade for the Ash Scattering, because it's such a worthwhile cause, and I didn't think twice about it.
Ash Scattering at London and Whipsnade Zoo
Did your loved one adore London or Whipsnade Zoo? Did they support us during their lifetime. If the answer is yes, then would you like to remember them by scattering their ashes at one of our conservation zoos.
Choosing to scatter your loved one's ashes can be hard, but we're here to support you. Many local authorities will ask for a charge to scatter ashes in your local area, but we offer peaceful surroundings near to our animals where you visit to remember your loved one for many years to come.
We can arrange a private experience for you and a small group of family and friends (6-7 people). We will arrange to meet you at the zoo of your choice in the morning, before we open to the public. For a suggested donation of £500 (or more) we will arrange early morning access, after which, you and your group can enjoy the zoo for the rest of the day. Please reach out to ensure on 0207 449 6847 or email us at remember@zsl.org
Ways to donate and fundraise in memory of a loved one
Tribute Fund & collection pages
A collection page or a Tribute Fund is a great way to donate to or fundraise for ZSL in memory of a loved one. Tribute Fund sites allow you to set up a personalised collection page, or a tribute page. You and your family and friends will be able to share memories, add photos and music, make instant online donations, and advertise any fundraising events that you take part in to raise funds for ZSL in memory of your loved one. You can continue to donate in their memory for as long as you wish, e.g. on special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries etc. The pages will keep a running total of funds donated, and people can donate either with their name, or anonymously. You can also pay any sponsorship money you receive for fundraising events directly to us via your page.
MuchLoved Tribute Funds
We have partnered with MuchLoved to allow you to create attractive, free and easy to use Tribute Fund pages. You can set up your page as you want it, and use it for funeral donations, special occasion donations, or for fundraising events to support our science-driven conservation work worldwide. To set up a Tribute Fund through MuchLoved, please click the link below and follow the instructions:
An Always & Forever ZSL Tribute Fund (muchloved.org)
JustGiving Tribute Funds
JustGiving also has the facility to set up free to use Tribute Funds and one off fundraising pages to raise funds for ZSL on its website:
Zoological Society Of London - JustGiving
MemoryGiving Collection Pages
The MemoryGiving website allows you to set up a page to, for example, collect funeral donations (usually in lieu of flowers) for ZSL:
Memory Giving | Memorygiving | Memorygiving.com
Donating a gift in memory
If you would like to make a donation to ZSL in memory of a loved one you can simply make a donation online, or by cheque addressed to the Zoological Society of London and posted to us at:
ZSL
Regent's Park
London
NW1 4RY