The Nature Nook

The Nature Nook The Nature Nook is an independent ethical pet supply store & exotic animal rescue. Registered Charity #: 1210835
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Meet our team:

- Makenzie Ferrier MSc

Makenzie is one of our two founders and current shop manager at The Nature Nook. He has a MSc in Conservation and a passion for all animals, domestic or otherwise. In his free time he is a keen crafter; many of our collars, bandanas and hammocks were made by him! You'll find him behind the counter with Jimbo the Amazon parrot most days a week, probably sha

ring some food.

- Alex Woods

Alex is the second of our two founders. While she has unfortunately had to step back from the business for the foreseeable future, she was still instrumental in it's birth and helped to make the store what it is today. She currently works at Paignton Zoo as a zookeeper, working in the reptile and amphibian section! She is also an amateur wildlife photographer and total parrot enthusiast. If you pop into our store you'll get to see her two conures in our aviary, Heidi and Rumple!

16/10/2025

I said I would start posting more about our rescue work so here it is!

I'm always a little hesitant about posting on Facebook as I don't feel as confident using it but it's important to show some of the day to day reality to help promote the rescue and the good work Sophie and I (and our lovely volunteers, Molly, Ruby, and Izzy) are doing locally!

Last week this little guy was handed in to the team at Silverton Veterinary Practice in Paignton after he was found in a local park, and then came down to us.

He has a stumpy tail and a patch of scale missing on his tail, severely impacted femoral pores. He's also dehydrated and malnourished and we suspect there is some MBD going on to add to his challenges. No matter how he ended up as a stray, it seems likely that he hasn't been well cared for in quite some time.

We're currently giving critical care 3x a day to increase his fluid intake and bathing once a day to loosen the build up of gunk in his pores.

I've seen a few rescues post their payment links as part of regular posts for anyone who would like to contribute so I may start doing this alongside our usual posts!

Thank you everyone for your support as always. Please keep this little guy in your thoughts over the next few days

16/10/2025

Morning all!

We're going to be open 10-2 today as it's my birthday and closed Saturday for a rare day with my family! 😄

How cute are these new Bailey and Coco Harnesses? 😍
14/10/2025

How cute are these new Bailey and Coco Harnesses? 😍

14/10/2025

Took in a lovely little beardie dragon who was found as a stray in the park yesterday. He's extremely dehydrated, weak, and malnourished but eating well (7 morio worms in one sitting!)

Taking name suggestions for this little fella

07/10/2025

I'm thinking about changing our opening hours and want to get your opinion! Here are the options:
- Keep the 9.30-4 hours
- Change to 10-5
- Change to 12-6

07/10/2025

From 7 October 2025, new rules will require mandatory pre-import testing for Brucella Canis for all commercial dog imports from Romania into Great Britain.

This protects both pets and people from Brucella Canis, with around 50% of all identified infections in Great Britain since 2020 coming from Romanian dog imports.

To protect you and your pet, only source your dogs from reputable breeders and rescue organisations. 🐕

Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-urged-to-buy-pets-from-reputable-sources

Our reptile section has had a refresh! We have new hides, live plants and even hydro fleece for those bioactive setups
07/10/2025

Our reptile section has had a refresh! We have new hides, live plants and even hydro fleece for those bioactive setups

Kiwi is acting as our shop manager today- depending on his mood we may be closing early but we are aiming to be here unt...
07/10/2025

Kiwi is acting as our shop manager today- depending on his mood we may be closing early but we are aiming to be here until at least 2pm

04/10/2025

⚠️ Why Animal and Human Saliva is Dangerous for Budgies ⚠️

Many people are surprised to learn that saliva from animals — and even humans — can be toxic, sometimes fatal, to budgies. A small nip, lick, or playful interaction can have serious consequences.

✨ Why it is so dangerous
• Cats carry Pasteurella multocida in their saliva. Even the tiniest scratch or lick can cause a rapidly fatal infection in birds, often within 24 hours
• Dogs and ferrets also carry bacteria that can lead to severe illness or death in budgies
• Human saliva contains bacteria that birds’ immune systems cannot handle. While not usually instantly fatal, it can still cause dangerous infections

✨ Symptoms to look out for after exposure
• Swelling or redness around a bite or scratch
• Lethargy or sudden weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid decline in severe cases

✨ Prevention is key
• Never allow cats, dogs, ferrets or humans to lick, bite, or mouth your budgie
• Always wash your hands thoroughly if you have handled other pets or put your fingers in your mouth before interacting with your bird
• Supervise all interactions closely — what may seem like gentle curiosity can sadly be deadly

Budgies rely on us to keep them safe. What seems harmless to us can quickly turn into a life-threatening risk for them.

UK Budgerigar Club — Where Budgies Come First 🐦

02/10/2025

Alright lovely people!

Unfortunately our freezer broke about a month ago. This is the third second-hand freezer we've had that has broken on us in the last four years so I'm hesitant to get another one as both times we've lost £80-£100 worth of frozen food.

Does anyone know any local businesses (or have contacts at a larger company) who may be willing to help donate one? It doesn't need to be fancy and I'm not too fussy about the type! Upright or chest would be fine. We don't even need the fridge part, just the freezer!

We're supporting the Peninsula Rat Club with their winter show this year! If anyone runs a rat-focused business and woul...
02/10/2025

We're supporting the Peninsula Rat Club with their winter show this year!

If anyone runs a rat-focused business and would like to have a stall at the event, please get in touch and I will put you in touch with the organisers.

The rat shows are always a lovely event and a great chance to meet some charming ratties!

We have these two lovely dwarf hamsters looking for new homes! They're both big burrowers so will need enclosures sized ...
02/10/2025

We have these two lovely dwarf hamsters looking for new homes!

They're both big burrowers so will need enclosures sized 100x50 or larger with a minimum of 10 inches of bedding and a 22cm wheel.

We have a spare pawhut enclosure that we'd be willing to part with alongside one of the hams.

Address

1-5 TOTNES Road
Paignton
TQ45JX

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

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