Raw-some new bus shelters come to Colchester Zoo to help boost support for the zoo and encourage sustainable transport
The paw-sitively unique shelters are the latest milestone in the bus shelter upgrade programme being rolled out across Essex.
New bus shelters have been installed at Colchester Zoo as part of the bus shelter upgrade programme to help improve the travel experience for visitors.
Essex County Council in partnership with Bauer Media Outdoor UK, First Bus and Colchester Zoological Society (CZS) have developed the unique shelters to also upgrade the facilities available and highlight the important work of the zoo.
The installation is the latest milestone in the Council’s 10-year programme to enhance bus shelters across Essex, improving accessibility, safety, and the passenger experience.
The previous Maldon Road bus shelters which serve the zoo were small and unlit. By making them more modern and appealing it is hoped the shelters will encourage more visitors and staff to travel sustainably by bus.
The upgraded shelters offer a range of features, including:
Solar‑powered lighting
Extra capacity and improved seating
Unique CZS branding and imagery
A new Colchester Zoo sign on the front of each shelter, plus a moving image, or lenticular feature, which highlights CZS’s sustainability and conservation work
A ‘Tap to Donate’ QR code to encourage visitors and bus users to make safe and secure online donations that help fund the zoo’s conservation work
The new shelters are designed to make bus travel more attractive, reducing car trips, easing congestion, and helping to lower emissions.
The previous shelters will be recycled and used elsewhere to maintain the sustainability of the programme and save money.
Councillor Mark Platt, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “These new bus shelters show how meaningful improvements can make bus travel more attractive, accessible, and sustainable for everyone.
“By investing in modern, better lit and more welcoming infrastructure, we’re supporting greener journeys, reducing congestion, and helping one of Essex’s leading attractions continue to thrive.”
Louise Stubbings, Partnerships and Creative Director, at Bauer Media Outdoor, said:
"Colchester Zoo is a fantastic addition to our ongoing bus shelter programme across Essex. Following our Milestone installations in Basildon, these custom-designed shelters demonstrate our commitment to creating infrastructure that meets the specific needs of different communities.
This collaboration showcases what's possible when partners work together. The shelters not only provide better facilities for the million visitors who travel to the zoo each year but also help raise awareness and funding for vital conservation efforts. It's a great example of how bus shelters can actively support local institutions and sustainable travel."
CZS welcomes around one million visitors each year and is home to more than 150 species and 10,000 animals, making it a major driver of tourism across Essex and the wider East of England.
