Calendars are going on sale to raise money for a zoo.
Steven Hardy, a 29-year-old web developer from Witham, has created a 2022 Colchester Zoo calendar to raise money for the popular tourist attraction.
As an avid animal photography-lover and zoo gold pass member, Steven regularly takes stunning snaps of the animals when he visits.
Now he is bringing out a themed calendar for next year, with all the profits going straight to the zoo.
The photos feature a variety of animals, past and present.
Steven published his first zoo calendar last year when there were fears the site could be forced to close permanently because of the pandemic.
He wanted to help in any way he could.
Steven said: “As a hobby photographer and a lover of the zoo, I thought I couldn’t let this happen.
“The zoo has been part of my life since a young age and now my children’s life too.
“I decided that I could create a calendar for the zoo and donate all the profits to them.”
Last year’s calendar raised £2,500 for the zoo’s emergency fund and sold more than 300 copies.
Following positive feedback for the 2021 calendar, Steven decided to do it all again.
“With the pandemic still lingering and the cost of running the zoo at about £26,000 a day, I decided that I would run another calendar,” he said.
“The reason for doing this is totally to raise money for Colchester Zoo and I have really enjoyed doing it.”
The calendars are on sale until Friday, November 5 at photographsbysteven.shop/buy-a-zoo-calendar, priced £12 including postage.
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