Timeline

Tom Jones decides to investigate the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens and begins his work.

Tom launches the petition, ‘Save Bristol Zoo Gardens from Becoming a Private Housing Estate’

Bristol Zoological Society employees begin approaching Tom to voice their discontent regarding internal affairs. Many staff members are reportedly deeply unhappy but feel unable to speak publicly due to fears over job security and the restrictive nature of quasi-NDAs they have been required to sign.

Tom formally begins work on his first report about the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Tom speaks at a community meeting in Clifton about what he has learned has been going on inside Bristol Zoological Society. People at the meeting say they thought the zoo had gone, but Tom explains that it very much has not gone and that most of the animals are still on site, including the lions, seals and gorillas. People are shocked and want to know more, including Alastair Sawday, who asks to read his draft report.

Shortly afterwards, Tom officially founds the Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Campaign with Alastair Sawday and Iain Boyd.

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens officially launches its campaign by publishing its website, Tom’s report and holding its first campaign meeting at Bristol Grammar School, chaired by Professor Alice Roberts.

Tom, Alastair and Iain are invited to meet Bristol Zoological Society CEO Dr. Justin Morris and trustee David Esam (who becomes the Chair of Trustees shortly afterwards). In the meeting, Dr. Morris tells Tom that despite KPMG putting forward 7-8 options for the Society, he didn’t make any attempts to raise funds in any other way before recommending to trustees to sell Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Campaign holds its second public meeting in a packed Christ Church in Clifton.

The Times publishes an article entitled “Bristol Zoo accused of misleading the public over garden site closure”.

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Campaign holds a public march and rally in support of their campaign, attended by hundreds of supporters. The event is covered by the Guardian leading to an article entitled, "It's an Act of Greed".

The Sunday Telegraph publishes an article about the campaign to save Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Bristol City Council publishes its planning report on Bristol Zoological Society’s housing application. The report says the "proposal is not in accordance with the development plan" and that there will be "adverse impacts associated with this proposal" but despite this, granting planning permission is recommended.

Bristol City Council subsequently award provisional planning permission for Bristol Zoological Society’s housing development on 26th April, 2023. Six out of nine councillors vote for permission to be granted, with three Green councillors voting against.

Tom, Alastair and Iain decide to go their separate ways, differing on what they want next for the Bristol Zoo Gardens site. Tom carries on with the SBZG campaign whilst Alastair and Iain form the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance.

Tom becomes a Bristol Zoological Society Shareholder after attending a private BZS shareholder meeting. Subsequently, a shareholder agrees to transfer one of their shares to help him with the SBZG campaign.

Shortly afterwards on 13th September, Tom attends the Bristol Zoological Society AGM as a shareholder. He asks Dr. Morris three questions and receives what he considers to be unsatisfactory answers, including about what the Society’s plans are for the lower plateau of the Hollywood Tower Estate. 

Whilst recovering from cancer surgery, Tom begins work on his 2nd report about the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Accompanied by another shareholder, Tom meets the Chair of BZS Trustees as well as the trustee responsible for finances and risk. One of the first things one of the trustees says as Tom and the other shareholder enter the meeting room is, “Do you not know who we are?” Because he is prohibited from making a formal presentation, Tom shows the two trustees a very brief summary of the work he has so far completed for his 2nd report on his report. All his work is categorically rejected by both trustees.

Bristol City Council’s planning department is put into special measures.

Shortly after completing courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Tom completes his 2nd report on the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens and sends a full 90-page hard copy to all of the Society's trustees. 10 days later, he receives a response which includes the lines:

"The full Board of Trustees has read your report and noted your position."
"I believe that we have already answered your main concerns during the course of all of our meetings."
"The Trustee Board takes full ownership of the Strategy to 2035." 
"The Board stands fully behind the plans for Bristol Zoo Project."

Tom responds to the trustees' response to his report, saying:

"To respond so briefly and dismissively on behalf of all eleven Trustees to ninety pages and several months of highly detailed investigative work which included much new information relating to the Society’s current strategy is to put it mildly, surprising. I would like to put on record that I do not feel my concerns have ever been answered at all satisfactorily let alone fully." 

In the same letter, Tom asks for access to Bristol Zoological Society's founding documents.

Bristol Zoological Society’s provisional planning permission is formally approved by Bristol City Council as the Section 106 agreement is signed.

Save Bristol Gardens Alliance launch a Judicial Review against Bristol City Council over the way planning permission was awarded for BZS’s private housing development, focusing on the loss of biodiversity for the site if BZS’s housing development goes ahead.

Tom is told he can view the founding documents, but only on condition of signing an 'Archive Access Agreement' which includes the conditions:

"I confirm that I have been granted permission to inspect the named documents only. I do not have the right to make copies of, or photograph, the documents, and will not share information about the documents, in whole or in part, with anyone, orally, physically or electronically."

"I confirm that I will not disclose or discuss this agreement or its contents."

"I understand that Bristol Zoological Society retains the right to take any legal action against a breach of confidentiality that it deems appropriate."

Tom declines to sign and pursues unrestricted access.

The Judicial Review applied for by Save Bristol Gardens Alliance is granted permission to proceed to a full hearing.

Bristol Zoological Society hold an auction of Bristol Zoo Gardens Zoo memorabilia, in the process stripping the site of a huge amount of its history and heritage and raising over £200,000 for the Society in the process. In defending the auction, CEO Justin Morris says that £25,000 will fund one year’s conservation work in Madagascar. SBZG points out that between 2019-2022, £3.252 million was spent on governance; an amount of money that could have funded BZS's Madagascan conservation project for the next 130 years.

Save Bristol Gardens Alliance holds a public meeting in Clifton to gather support for its Judicial Review. At the same meeting, Tom Jones challenges Bristol Zoological Society's leadership for the first time on why they have yet to provide access to the zoo's founding documents. The day after, Bristol Zoological Society simulatenously announces it has exchanged contracts with Acorn Property Group for the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens, and sends photos and transcripts of the founding documents.

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens relaunches its campaign with a petition calling for the current BZS leadership to stand down and for the developer, Acorn Property Group, to withdraw its bid to buy Bristol Zoo and turn it into private housing. To mark the relaunch, a public event is organised to take place at Bristol Beacon on April 29th to present the alternative vision for a reimagined Bristol Zoo Gardens, featuring international experts and former zoo staff. 35,000 flyers are distributed to homes around Bristol advertising the high profile event. 

Tom Jones receives a call from Bristol Beacon, telling him the Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Special Campaign Event is being cancelled because of the recently launched petition calling for Bristol Zoo’s leadership to stand down. Tom asks if anyone from Bristol Zoo has been in touch with the Beacon and is told this hasn't happened.

Tom receives an email from Bristol Beacon confirming to him in writing that the SBZG Special Campaign Event is being cancelled, with no further explanation given.

Tom Jones receives a legal letter from Bristol Zoological Society's legal representatives saying the charity "has continued to monitor the public statements made by Mr Jones in relation to his continued opposition to the sale of the Charity's site in Clifton," and implying significant financial consequences if he continues to make "inaccurate and misleading comments" about the charity.

In relation to the founding documents, the letter says that "the Charity has already put the Commission on notice of the position, having kept them informed throughout."

Tom Jones receives an email from Bristol Zoological Society asking for his permission for the Society to share his contact details with Acorn Property Group, he assumes so he can be sent another legal letter. He declines.

The High Court in Bristol is hears the Judicial Review case brought by Save Bristol Gardens Alliance against Bristol City Council over the planning permission awarded for the Bristol Zoo Gardens housing development.

Tom Jones takes legal advice and subsequently pursues Bristol Beacon for repayment of his lost publicity costs for the cancelled zoo event. He suspects Bristol Zoo's inteference in the decision to cancel the Beacon meeting and consequently, submits a Subject Access Request to Bristol Beacon so he can gain access to all internal emails referencing his name.

After repeatedly refusing to repay Tom's costs, Bristol Beacon finally agree, but only if he withdraws his Subject Access Request and signs a non-disclosure agreement.

After a lengthy wrangle, Bristol Beacon finally agree to pay Tom his lost publicity costs without him needing to sign an NDA or withdraw his Subject Access Request.

Shortly afterwards, Tom receives his Subject Access Request, which reveals that contrary to what he was told at the time of cancellation, Bristol Zoo's CEO did contact Bristol Beacon's CEO, hours before Bristol Beacon cancelled the Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Special Campaign Event.

Following close inspection of the founding documents from specialist London counsel, Tom submits on behalf of himself and a group of shareholders an official complaint to the Charity Commission. The letter sets out in great detail two major concerns:

a) The trusts on which the Gardens are held, including as to the Charity’s ability to effect the sale and compliance with s.121 Charities Act 2011;

b) Deficiencies in the trustee decision-making, including as to whether the matter should  be considered afresh.

Bristol Live publishes emails from Tom Jones’s Subject Access Request (SAR) which shows that Bristol Zoo’s CEO, Justin Morris, did intervene just hours before Bristol Beacon cancelled the Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Special Campaign Event, due to be held at Bristol Beacon 29th April, 2025. The SAR also shows that senior staff at Bristol Beacon tried to cover this up in the days and weeks that followed.

The Charity Commission responds to the complaint submitted in September. It says:

"We do not agree that there are unresolved issues in respect of either the trusts on which the original zoo site is held or the trustee decision making about the relocation and sale. Having considered all the relevant documents, we agree with the analysis provided by the charity’s lawyers in respect of the land. The Commission can only intervene in cases where decisions are irrational, unreasonable or in breach of the law." 

The Financial Conduct Authority publishes a warning about Acorn Property Group on its website, saying:

"This firm may be providing or promoting financial services or products without our permission. You should avoid dealing with this firm and beware of scams. Almost all firms and individuals must be authorised or registered by us to carry out or promote financial services in the UK. This firm is not authorised by us and may be targeting people in the UK."

Save Bristol Gardens Alliance Judicial Review case is rejected, meaning Bristol Zoological Society can proceed with its plans to sell Bristol Zoo Gardens. In order to complete the sale, it must offer Acorn Property Group, ‘vacant possession’ of the site, which can only be given when the gorillas finally move to their new home at Cribbs Causeway. As of December 2025, it is still under construction.

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Campaign finally holds its Special Campaign Event and bills it as “the event that Bristol Zoological Society’s current leadership never wanted to go ahead.” At the standing-room-only event, Tom Jones presents his research and the vision for a reimagined Bristol Zoo Gardens is finally revealed. Speakers at the event include Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman Animation, several former Bristol Zoo staff and a letter of recommendation is read out from renowned international zoo expert, Douglas Richardson.

Just a week after the successful SBZG Special Campaign Event, Tom Jones's fundraiser which is funding the continuation of his fight to save Bristol Zoo Gardens, is put 'on hold' after an anonymous complaint to Go Fund Me. 

The anonymous complaint about Tom's fundraising page is dismissed by Go Fund Me.

The gorilla family at Bristol Zoo Gardens finally move to their new home at Bristol Zoo Project, accompanied by an armed police escort.

Bristol Live publishes a story confirming the FCA warning about Acorn Property Group.

Bristol Zoological Society announces that Jock, its 42-year-old silverback gorilla has died, less than two weeks after leaving his Clifton home of over twenty years.

Tom Jones publishes an open letter in Bristol 24/7 entitled: 'Dear Bristol: We Are Witnessing a Scandal in Plain Sight.'

Save Bristol Zoo Gardens finally publishes Tom Jones's 2nd report about the closure of Bristol Zoo on its new website, as well as making public the vision for a reimagined Bristol Zoo Gardens that was presented in January at SBZG's Special Campaign Event.

A public demonstration is staged outside Acorn Property Group's offices to protest against the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens to Acorn.

A second public demonstration is staged outside Acorn Property Group's offices to protest against the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens to Acorn.

A third public demonstration is staged outside Acorn Property Group's offices to protest against the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens to Acorn, this time attracting more people. 

A fourth public demonstration is staged outside Acorn Property Group's offices to protest against the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens to Acorn, this time hearing from Shane Collins, Green Party Somerset Councillor of Frome East, who explains why and how Frome saw off Acorn as potential developers on a major town centre site called Saxonvale.