Allies for Wildlife: London City Farm Yarn Project with Battersea Park Children's Zoo

Battersea Park Children's Zoo joins an inspiring local project to bring Londoners closer to nature and sustainability:

At Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, we care deeply about animals of all kinds - from endangered exotic species to the rare and remarkable domestic breeds that form part of our agricultural heritage. While many visitors come to see our monkeys, meerkats, and reptiles, we’re just as passionate about preserving the legacy of native farm animals like Bagot goats and Oxford sandy & black pigs.

That’s why we’re delighted to be part of the London City Farm Yarn Project - an inspiring initiative that highlights the often-overlooked value of British wool and the rare sheep breeds that produce it.

Every year, small city farms in London generate over a ton of fleece, much of it from breeds such as the Castlemilk Moorit, Soay, and Border Leicester, heritage breeds that are now uncommon across the UK. These sheep grow beautiful, high-quality fleeces, but limited resources and infrastructure mean most of this wool goes to waste.

The London City Farm Yarn Project is working to change that.

Led by a network of ten city farms (including us!), the project has gathered nearly 1.2 tonnes of fleece from 16 British breeds. From that, over 350kg of wool has been spun into natural, undyed yarn in two lovely colours—creamy ecru and soft brown.

While we don't currently care for a native sheep breed at the zoo, we proudly contributed fleece from our Valais Blacknose sheep, famous for their woolly coats and sweet personalities.

This initiative reflects a bigger message: zoos and city farms have an important role to play in sustainability and biodiversity education. Rare domestic breeds are part of our living history and environmental future. By supporting their conservation, we also teach visitors, especially children, about sustainable agriculture, ethical sourcing, and the environmental impact of our choices.

Wool is one of nature’s most sustainable materials. It’s a completely renewable resource, sheep produce a new fleece every year, and it’s 100% biodegradable, breaking down naturally without polluting the environment. Unlike synthetic fibers, wool doesn’t shed harmful microplastics and requires far fewer chemicals to process. It’s also incredibly durable, meaning wool products last longer and reduce waste. 

When sourced responsibly, like from the rare breeds supported by the London City Farm Yarn Project, wool production can support biodiversity and traditional farming methods. Plus, wool is naturally breathable and insulating, making it an energy-efficient choice for clothing and textiles. By turning otherwise wasted fleece into something beautiful and useful, this project is a great example of how wool can play a key role in a more sustainable future.

As the project evolves, it aims to transform this ethically produced yarn into beautiful, locally made products - showing that sustainable fashion and heritage conservation can go hand in hand.

This is about more than wool. It’s about celebrating native breeds and encouraging zoos and our visitors to think more about and supporting sustainable British farming. 

To learn more about this valuable project, visit the London City Farm Yarn on instagram at @londoncityfarmyarn