Kidepo Trail & Big Cats | Blackpool Zoo

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  3. Kidepo Trail & Big Cats | Blackpool Zoo

Follow our multi-year relationship with Blackpool Zoo, from Giraffes and Antelope to Petting Zoos and Predators – We’re proud to be a trusted partner of Blackpool Zoo. Watch or read along as we explore our recent work on the Big Cat habitats and their new Kidepo Trail expansion.

The Challenge

In 2023, we partnered with Blackpool Zoo to develop and install new habitats for their Amur Tigers and African Lions. The project required the installation of several-metre-high mesh security fencing with cranked extensions, alongside bespoke access gates and operational fencing for the habitat facilities areas. Working within a live zoo environment added significant complexity, requiring careful coordination around animal management, public access, operational hours and strict health and safety controls to ensure minimal disruption to visitors, staff and the animals themselves.

Building on this partnership, we returned in September 2025 to begin landscaping works for an extended grass paddock serving the Giraffe and Sitatunga habitats, including the operation of a 13T excavator within the active zoo environment. In Spring 2026, we were tasked with delivering the final phase of secure habitat infrastructure ahead of the public opening of the new Kidepo Trail exhibit.

The Solution

Our team delivered a complete habitat infrastructure package designed to support both security and animal welfare requirements. For the tiger and lion enclosures, we installed high-security mesh fencing with cranked tops, together with bespoke access gates and facilities-area fencing to support the zoo’s day-to-day operations.

Following the landscaping works, we installed secure mesh and chain-link fencing for the new Giraffe and Sitatunga habitats, alongside bespoke sliding access gates between the hardstanding areas and grass paddocks. These gates were manufactured in-house by our metal fabrication workshop to meet the project’s specific operational requirements. The completed Kidepo Trail officially opened to the public in May 2026.

Hear from Blackpool Zoo

‘We had the pleasure of working with IP Jones on both the Big Cat Habitat and Giraffe Kidepo Trail projects at Blackpool Zoo, and the results have been outstanding. From the outset, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of the installations met the highest standards of safety and quality.

Working on specialist enclosures such as those for big cats and giraffes requires a deep understanding of both structural integrity and animal welfare, and they delivered on both fronts seamlessly. Their ability to manage complex requirements, tight timeframes, and the challenges of working within a busy zoo environment was truly impressive.

Communication throughout the projects was clear and reliable, and their team worked collaboratively with ours to overcome any challenges quickly and efficiently. The finished enclosures are not only secure and fit for purpose but also blend well within the zoo’s environment, enhancing both functionality and appearance.

We would highly recommend this company for any large-scale or specialist fencing projects and look forward to working with them again in the future.’

– Darren Webster, Director at Blackpool Zoo

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