Dudley Zoo bear enclosure no longer at risk as £1m work pays off
An iconic animal closure at Dudley Zoo is no longer 'at risk' according to a heritage watchdog following the completion of £1.15 million improvement works.
Dudley Zoo's bear ravine and kiosk, which was built in 1995, was deemed under threat by Heritage England back in 2009.
But after masonry repair work and the hiring of two workers to look after the enclosure, which was home to bears 30 years ago, it has been removed from the Historic England At Risk register.
The register lists historic sites across the country that could fall into disrepair.
While work was being carried out, engineers discovered the names of bears formerly housed at the building still painted over their den doors, which bosses decided to keep.
The ravine, built by architects Lubetkin and Tecton, has been restored to replicate how it would have looked when originally built, including improvement work to its iconic shaped retaining wall and terrace.
It is one of the zoo's collection of Tecton buildings, with 12 listed structures around the site intended for both animal and visitor use.
The ravine is considered by experts to be the most impressive Tecton within the collection, according to bosses at the attraction.
Elsewhere in the region, Staffordshire's Hales Hall has been added to the 'at risk' register, with Heritage England claiming the site is 'steadily declining' and 'vulnerable to vandalism'.
However, a third of all sites on the 2010 register have now been rescued, reaching Historic England's target.
Dr Sarah Lewis, Historic at Risk principal for Historic England in the West Midlands said: "This year's register gives us the most complete sense of the state of our region's heritage yet.
"It shows that we are making progress, but also that the challenge is still significant.
"We are committed to working with local authorities, civic societies and everyone who is passionate about and values our heritage across England. "The very things that help make our region so special, are the things most at risk.
"If they're lost, then a sense of what makes the West Midlands special is lost too.
"Together we can safeguard our most precious places and buildings for future generations."
