THE Isle of Wight Monkey Haven has won one of the biggest accolades in UK tourism – scooping the National Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards.
The Staplers attraction has enjoyed a great start to 2017, having already been recognised with A VisitEngland Gold Award in February, as well as maintaining its place at the top of the Trip Advisor list of ‘things to do on the Isle of Wight.’
Founder Don Walser, who attended the ceremony with his daughter Kelly Wickes, who is also involved with the sanctuary's work, said: “We are amazed and delighted!
“This award means so much to us. Six years ago, when we set up a primate rescue centre on the Isle of Wight, everyone thought we were crackers.
“Now we’re the best small attraction in the country. We’re a small charity but thanks to the support that we’ve had, we’ve been able to continually expand and evolve and care for growing numbers of creatures in crisis, from monkeys who’ve been smuggled through customs to meerkats who’ve been victims of the cruel pet trade.”
The awards were handed out at the Hilton Waldorf, London.