Staffordshire wildlife centre faces crucial three months
A closure-threatened wildlife centre in Staffordshire is facing a crucial three months as it battles to survive, its owner revealed today.
Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre, near Stafford, could have closed by the end of this year due to dwindling visitor figures but was helped by a surge in numbers when its perilous plight was revealed in the summer.
Bosses say the next quarter – traditionally the site's quietest period – is critical.
Director Jenny Morgan said today: "We're hopeful if we can see out the next three months we should be alright.
"We had a jump in donations, of food and money, after the article appeared and that has helped us get through. This is our quietest time, after Christmas, and it will be vital for us." It emerged in July attendance had slumped by 25 per cent, with only 7,500 people passing through the doors in 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.
Mrs 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.
She said the wildlife centre had endured its toughest year in two decades.
Mrs Morgan works alongside 20 volunteers in Stone Road, Eccleshall.
As well as looking after a range of birds of prey, reptiles and wildcats, they also do school visits and public appearances.
Despite its financial difficulties bosses still managed to bankroll an overhaul of the centre this year.
The old Lynx enclosure was taken down to make way for a new, larger enclosure for wildcats, and an extended walk-through enclosure for fruit bats.
Their old enclosures were then renovated for other residents including iguanas and raccoons.
