The introductory offer results from a growing interest in informal wildlife talks and tours from existing users of the £4m business and education centre created by the wildlife charity from 17th century farm-buildings at the heart of its 250-acre nature reserve.

 Centre manager, Philip Niemand explains: “Folly Farm is such a beautiful and interesting place that, we’ve become very used to our conferencing customers asking to be shown around as a way to break up their business sessions and refresh their minds. 

 “This got us thinking that physical exercise is just as important as well-equipped rooms and quality catering to organisations which depend on alert brains for success. So we thought - why not let more users check out the benefits of an outdoor ‘time-out’ by inviting them to sample one of our team-building activities for free?”

The offer is open to any South West company or non-profit group making a firm booking by 31 January for an event at Folly Farm for 16-100 people at any time during 2011. The add-on options include a guided tour, wildlife ID walk, hands-on conservation work, such as dry stone walling or step building, or a bush-craft lesson.

 One local company which has already sampled team-building at Folly Farm is the travel guide company Alastair Sawday’s Travel, of Long Ashton, near Bristol.

 Proprietor Alastair Sawday says: “About 30 of us turned up in wellies and anoraks for a wet afternoon of foraging and fire-lighting in the woods, followed by a session on shelter-building. I was astonished how eager we all were, and the energy behind shelter-building had to be seen to be believed. All this was followed by a delicious meal, sourced from local producers. We had a great time - and will return.”

To find out more about the Folly Farm Centre, including how to claim a free team-building activity, contact Philip Niemand on 01275 331590 or at mailto://philipniemand@follyfarm.org or visit the centre’s website: http://www.follyfarm.org/

Folly Farm is located off the A368 Bath and Bristol to Weston-super-Mare road, at Bishop Sutton.

It is run as a trading subsidiary of Avon Wildlife Trust, and all profits are gift aided to the charity to support its work with local wildlife.