If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise as you might just find the bears enjoying fresh Scottish raspberries instead of the usual teddy bears’ picnic.

SCRI, Scotland’s leading centre for research on crops, has had some unusual customers over the years but the most recent clients, the wild European bears living at Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee, came as something of a surprise.

It appears the bears living like nothing better than munching on berries and soft fruits and when their keepers wanted a reliable, local supply of the best quality fruit SCRI were only too happy to oblige.

SCRI has donated around 60 raspberry plants and blackcurrant bushes to the wildlife centre which are being planted in the new bear enclosure as part of an environmental enrichment programme. It’s designed to enhance the physical, dietary and sensory environment of the bears.

Bradly Yule of Campderdown Wildlife Centre said: "Bears have a really acute sense of smell and by putting this type of fruit crop in the enclosure it will allow them to explore all the senses they would need for foraging in the wild."

"Raspberries are native in the northern hemisphere and in the wild bears will forage for fruit like raspberries and blackberries. Although they have very big teeth they also have very supple lips and can pick one fruit at a time," he said.

"All fruits are good for bears as they are omnivores and will eat any fruit and vegetables. Hopefully in years to come, the SCRI would be able to give us some more plants. We are grateful for their assistance."

Alison Dolan, a plant pathologist at SCRI said: "Bradly contacted me to ask if we had any soft fruit available. We usually supply the Scottish and worldwide industry with high quality plants and it is the first time we have been asked to supply plants for bears."

"Humans use fruit as part of a healthy diet so why not bears. They are high in vitamins, minerals and very high in anti-oxidants that have been proven to be beneficial to humans and will also be for bears."

"If Camperdown need any help with growing the plants they can call us and hopefully we will be able to help them again with more plants next year as part of a continuing relationship and extend the fruit to other animals at the wildlife centre too."