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Blackbrook Zoo needs £70,000 in donations to avoid closure

The future of Blackbrook Zoo in Staffordshire, one of the UK’s largest zoos, is in doubt after the zoo announced it is experiencing serious financial problems. The zoo, which claims to be the largest birdpark in Britain, with the country’s largest wildfowl collection, is run by a charitable trust, but says that it faces closure unless £70,000 can be found very quickly.

Debbie Hughes, the zoo’s general manager, said: “A lot of people have said they just didn’t know we were here. We are actually a charity so donations of any kind are welcome. “People aren’t spending as much money in the recession. They’re not spending money in the cafe or the shop.”

Ms Hughes continued: “It’s important we have somewhere like this in the community. It’s great to come and walk around on a Sunday afternoon. We need local people’s support, so it would be brilliant if people could adopt an animal.” Blackbrook has more than 4,000 birds and in excess of 400 species of animal including lemurs, meerkats, zebras, tamarin monkeys, giant tortoises, wallabies and blackbuck antelopes.

Ms Hughes, 43, who has worked at Blackbrook Zoo for two years is now on a two-day week, but is still volunteering for the other three days. She said: “It’s a brilliant place, run by an amazing group of people. People go all the way to Chester and Twycross when we’ve got all this here.”

With monthly running costs of £35,000, Blackbrook has launched a campaign in the local community, with everyone from locals to supermarkets chipping in. 

● Donations to Blackbrook Zoo can be made over the phone on 01538 308 293 or via email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.