Cippenham Nursery School

Cippenham Nursery are very proud to have adopted Betty the Tortoise as the school pet.  She was found wondering around a bus shelter in Hemel Hempstead and after six months of trying to trace her owners the local vets offered her for adoption. She is a female Horsfield tortoise approximately 40 years old.  A smart new enclosure has been built for her in the playground and the children have enjoyed studying her movements.

She likes to eat green vegetables and some fruit.  For the winter months Betty would normally hibernate but, as she was unwell over the summer, it was recommended that she doesn't hibernate this year and is now indoors and keeping the office staff company in the main reception area.

Horsefield tortoises are native to Central Asia and have been known to reach the age of 60 years or more.  They are a small species of tortoise, with females reaching up to 8 inches; males are slightly smaller.  They have a roundish shell , dark brown to olive green in colour and they differ from many other tortoises because they have four claws on their front feet.

You are welcome to visit Betty in her indoor enclosure in the reception area during school hours.