Wild Visitors at Our Care Home

Today we had the most wonderful visit from ZooLab . They brought four amazing creatures for us to meet, learn about, and (for the braver among us!) get up close and personal with. It was an afternoon none of us will forget in a hurry.

First up was Salt the gerbil — tiny, lightning-fast, and absolutely full of personality. He darted between hands and had everyone giggling at how much energy one little creature could hold. A perfect icebreaker to kick things off.

Next came Boomerang the tree frog, just five years old and already a total crowd favourite. This little sticky-footed wonder clung to everything — and everyone — with impressive confidence. Brilliantly green and utterly charming.

Then there was Ginger the snake, a magnificent 10-year-old who has clearly seen it all. Smooth, calm, and surprisingly warm to the touch, Ginger wound gently around hands and arms and reminded us that reptiles can be remarkably gentle. More than a few nerves quickly turned into big smiles.

We were also introduced to a stick insect — a creature so extraordinarily good at blending in that half the room couldn't spot it until it moved. Delicate, twiggy, and almost impossibly camouflaged, it was a brilliant reminder of just how clever nature can be.

Then came the giant snail, and giant really was the word. Slow, steady, and strangely beautiful. Surprisingly popular — there's something very calming about a creature that takes life entirely at its own pace.

But the showstopper of the afternoon was undoubtedly Hank the scorpion. Already impressive under normal light — but when the ZooLab team switched on the ultraviolet torch, Hank glowed a vivid, electric blue. There were gasps all round. Nobody could quite believe what they were seeing. Utterly magical.

It was a brilliant afternoon full of curiosity, laughter, and a healthy dose of "ooh, I'm not sure about this!" There's something really special about getting this close to the natural world, and ZooLab made it feel safe, fun, and genuinely educational for everyone.

A huge thank you to the ZooLab team — and to Salt, Boomerang, Ginger, and the incomparable Hank for being such brilliant guests.

---