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The Pig – at Bridge Place announced that it is donating fruit and vegetables to the vulnerable amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The site, which is part of the Pig hotel group, has revealed that its kitchen garden staff are now delivering fresh produce from the site’s gardens to NHS workers, the high risk and vulnerable.
Recipients of the produce include residents of the nearby gorilla sanctuary at Howletts Wild Animal Park, which is currently closed to visitors.
The sanctuary houses 29 Western lowland gorillas, which The Aspinall Foundation intends to re-introduce to Central Africa after the crisis.
They are being delivered parsnips, chard, celeriac and spring onions, amongst other fresh produce, that would otherwise go to waste.
The Pig -at Bridge Place opened in April 2019 but has now temporarily closed in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
It said it is unsure when it will reopen to guests, but it is “making the most of the situation by ensuring that their nourishing produce does not go to waste and reaches as many people (and wild animals) as possible”.
Hotel director, Guy Freedman, said: “we didn’t want any food to go to waste but veg can only be preserved for so long.
“We have asked all in our local village of Bridge to let us know what they need and have ensured that the local NHS workers, elderly and vulnerable take what they want.”
He added: “We still found ourselves with leftover veg as the gardens are at their most productive in April, May and June.
“So we are delighted to have found that the gorillas are happy recipients.”
