Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre facing closure

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre, near Stafford, will close by the end of this year unless dwindling visitor figures pick up, its devastated owner revealed today.

Attendance has slumped by 25 per cent, with only 7,500 people passing through the doors in the last 12 months. The long-running tourist attraction used to pull in more than 10,000 people from all over the country.

The drastic reduction in numbers of visitors has been put down to the recession and this year's awful weather.

Director Jenny Morgan took over the sanctuary from her late father, Rob Smith, who championed the cause of wildlife conservation, with particular interest in birds of prey.

Mrs Morgan said: "This is the toughest it has been in the whole 19 years, it has been a really bad summer with the weather.

"The costs of running it stays the same but without visitors it means money is going out but not coming in."

Mrs Morgan, who said Gentleshaw will struggle to continue into next year unless things improve, works alongside 20 volunteers in Stone Road, Eccleshall.

As well as a looking after a range of birds of prey, reptiles and wildcats, they also do schools visits and public appearances.

The 31-year-old said people can save the centre by visiting more and donating fruit and vegetables to feed the animals.

She is also appealing to Staffordshire businesses to sponsor some of the enclosures.

"We fund our work by charging an admission to the sanctuary, providing school talks and carrying out charity collections," she said.

"Running a charity such as ours is of course very costly – providing the veterinary care, correct food and heating or such a variety of species does not come cheaply.

"We rely on the support of the public.

"Sadly with the poor British weather, the current economic climate and an increase in bills, we are really beginning to struggle."

Gentleshaw was opened in 1993 by Mr Smith. The ex-gamekeeper, who appeared on the likes of Blue Peter and The Really Wild Show and died in 2003, started it as a home for just a few unwanted animals and birds.

By Harry Gottschalk