20 WILD years
Celebrating 20 years of Barbary macaque conservation
20 years on...
2025 was a monumental year for Trentham Monkey Forest!
We celebrated 20 incredible years of connecting people with the enchanting world of Barbary macaques, as they simply go about their monkey lives in our 60-acre Staffordshire woodland. All day, every day, all year round.
From the moment our gates first opened in 2005, we’ve been a haven of discovery, a hub for conservation, and a place where unforgettable memories are made - being the ONLY UK Monkey Forest!
As we go onwards with our journey, we plan to continue protecting Barbary macaques and making magical memories for our wonderful visitors.
Nostalgic Tribute: A Face Made of Memories
In 2025, as part of our celebrations, we unveiled something truly special, a breathtaking photo collage created by renowned artist Nathan Wyburn.
Using over 500 images captured at Monkey Forest over the past two decades, Nathan has immortalized our journey in stunning art!
We asked previous guests to submit their images to us, and every single image told a story - joyful moments shared with our team, historic events, and amazing monkey memories that have helped shape our park into what it is today.
Each year since our opening is represented in the collage, culminating in a familiar face: ‘Dee,’ the first ever baby born at Trentham Monkey Forest.
Born into our German group, a lineage tracing back to our sister park in Germany, Dee grew up to become the group’s chief, a testament to the strength and legacy of our conservation efforts.
Now 20 years old and no longer top of the tree, Dee’s face symbolises not just our past but also our hope for the future of Barbary macaques, being the first baby born, as we actively fight Barbary macaque extinction by aiming to see between 6-10 babies born each year within the forest.
Over 100 babies have been in the forest since Dee’s arrival. More than 5 generations of monkeys have since flourished within the park, living a rich and fulfilling life.
Conservation Auction for our 20th Year
To mark two decades of conservation, education, and unforgettable memories, award-winning wildlife artist Becca Barron created an exclusive, original artwork right inside the forest, surrounded by our beloved monkey residents.
This one-of-a-kind piece was auctioned off on the 24th July, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Primate Society of Great Britain to support vital primate conservation and research efforts.
We successfully raised over £250 from this - going directly to conservation and research!
