Zoo stays open after £75k appeal success

THE future of a closure-threatened zoo has been secured after a successful fund-raising campaign.

Staff running Blackbrook Zoological Park launched a £75,000 appeal for help after warning the tourist attraction could close by Christmas.

But businesses and loyal customers have come forward to donate cash by sponsoring animals and enclosures to help with the appeal.

The attraction has also been boosted by school parties who have started visiting Blackbrook, instead of Chester Zoo.

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Now staff have thanked the fund-raisers after revealing their future has been secured.

The park, at Winkhill, near Leek, costs £250,000-a-year to run. It is estimated gate receipts bring in about £175,000, leaving a shortfall of £75,000.

In a message on its Facebook page, a park spokesman told supporters: "Thank you to all who have helped secure Blackbrook's future. We have lots of new adopters, it's been tough keeping up with them really.

"Fingers crossed for a mild winter and 20 more years to come."

The announcement comes a month after 300 influential guests were invited to the park to mark the launch of its corporate sponsorship scheme

Avicultural manager Tony Durkin, pictured right, who recently returned to Blackbrook from Paignton Zoo, said: "The future is looking a lot brighter. We are grateful for the support shown to us, but we need people to keep visiting us.

"We feel the zoo is part of the community. We take on students from Reaseheath College and youngsters from Werrington Young Offenders' Institution who want to get back into work."

A series of fund-raising initiatives were held as the park tried to stay open.

Zookeeper Megan Fieldhouse, aged 19, of Leek, who has worked at the attraction for three years, said: "It's a relief that things are looking better for the zoo."

Fellow keeper James Owens, aged 18, also of Leek, said: "Even when we were worried about the future we knew we had a job to do and to help the animals."

Blackbrook – which employs 12 members of staff and has 10 volunteers – is run by a charitable trust and has celebrated its 20th anniversary this summer.

It is famous for having one of the largest bird collections in the country. It also has one of the largest collections of wildfowl in the world.

Mum-of-two Angela Goulding, aged 35, of Leek, who regularly visits Blackbrook, said: "We need to keep attractions like this in the area. It's fantastic."