![The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre")
Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved+44 7880551692)
The free Animal Crackers event, which took place on Friday, was organised by Stevenage Borough Council, and allowed visitors to meet sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys, reptiles and birds of prey.
![The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre")
Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved+44 7880551692)
There were also donkey rides, owl encounters, free face painting and sand activities.
According to the council, 3,658 people attended the event, which was an increase in footfall of 20 per cent from the previous Friday.
![The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre")
Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
Strict vetting procedures are carried out to ensure animal welfare at petting zoo events, with all suppliers required to have the correct licenses, and to make sure animals' needs are catered for and interactions between animals and visitors are closely monitored.
![The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre")
Children pet the animals at the Ark Farm petting Zoo in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
![The Comet: Aqsa Mehmud, seven, holding a southern white faced owl called Pigwidgeon at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Aqsa Mehmud, seven, holding a southern white faced owl called Pigwidgeon at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre")
Aqsa Mehmud, seven, holding a southern white faced owl called Pigwidgeon at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
![The Comet: People meet the animals on show at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: People meet the animals on show at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre")
People meet the animals on show at the Teaching Talons stand in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
![The Comet: Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre")
Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
![The Comet: Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre]( "The Comet: Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre")
Grace Dickinson of Teaching Talons shows off Candy the Corn Snake to Brandon, eight, and Sonny Loo, three, in Stevenage Town Centre (Image: ©2021 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved
+44 7880551692)
![The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square]( "The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square")
An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Stevenage Borough Council)
![The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square]( "The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square")
An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Stevenage Borough Council)
![The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square]( "The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square")
An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Stevenage Borough Council)
![The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square]( "The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square")
An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Stevenage Borough Council)
![The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square]( "The Comet: An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square")
An Animal Crackers petting zoo event was held in Stevenage Town Square (Image: Stevenage Borough Council)
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