Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre (who?)

[My Name is URL]

Article on the front of tonights Express & Star - "Wildlife Centre Facing Shutdown"

Goes on to say that visitor numbers are well down and if things don't change then they'll have to close. Also asks for donations of fruit for the animals and corporate sponsors for the animals....

Now is it just me or has anyone else never heard of the place? How can they complain (and blame the recession) if they don't market the place?

Now i'm an animal lover and hope things pick up so might visit them myself....

Here's the URL - http://www.gentleshawwildlife.co.uk/

 

[proactive]

I've been to Fletchers garden centre many times but never knew it was there!

 

[staffordjas]

It's at the back of the garden centre and we have visited several times in the past, but with this weather we haven't been this year yet.
Doesn't cost much to get in and we find it very interesting with their different variety of birds and animals,all with a story to tell about how they came to end up in Gentleshaw. We have sponsored 'Buster' the Lynx in the past years. Feeling guilty now about not visiting more often !

Certainly worth a visit, and if you have youngsters there used to be a miniature railway just outside the actual rescue centre part and picnic area with climbing frames and guinea pigs (Not part of the rescue centre but rounds the visit off nicely. )

I just hope they do get enough funding to keep going as they are doing a brilliant job looking after the unwanted and rescued wildlife.

 

[Noah]

The minature railway is still there, not sure about guinea pigs but there are rabbits in the childrens area. There used to be crazy golf as well, not sure if that is still there. The animal sanctuary is tucked away so you don't necessarily notice it.

 

[Withnail]

The animal sanctuary is tucked away so you don't necessarily notice it.

Someone should have a word with Alan Carr - by a quirk of faith it could have been them.

Go halves?

 

[grumpystaffordguy]

I'd never heard of it either

 

[staffordjas]

I'd never heard of it either

The first I heard of it was when there was a feature in the paper a few years ago about the founder ,Rob Smith,dying and his daughter carrying on with his rescue work.
We had difficulty finding it hidden away behind the garden centre even though we had gone specifically to visit it. Could certainly do with more signage around Fletchers. (Although the staff in Fletchers haven't been the most pleasant of people each time we have walked through,as though they weren't happy with people walking through their shop without buying anything from them. They have actually got a few plant sales off us which we wouldn't have bought otherwise)

 

[Vex]

Only been there once, a few years back, it's quite small, and seemed a bit run down in places, but I guess that's to be expected with limited budgets (there where also several new looking cages, so it wasn't all bad).

I have a few photos from my visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/graphicreality/sets/72157629759801217/

 

[Gramaisc]

I believe that it was originally founded in Gentleshaw, near Burntwood, and moved to Fletcher's many years ago, keeping the original name.

They do have a Facebook page.

 

[purplecloud]

I must admit I'd never heard of it before I read about it in the paper and had to look it up on the computer.

 

[1JKz]

i've recently had someone from Stafford Wildlife knock on my door to ask me to become a member, i've always been on a regular basis (still am) to Wolseley Wildlife Centre but here he was anyway, knocking on my door drumming up business, of course i signed up there and then, it could have been another few months before i had an in head debate whether to become a member offa my own back, i think Gentleshaw could take a leaf out of their book and go out and get people signed up, leaflet drop, anything.

I know, i know, easier said than done etc...

Like some here, i'd never heard of the place!

 

[The Hawk]

I must admit I've known about Gentleshaw's for years, although it's a while since I last called in.

They have been featured on Discovery Television ('Pick The Pilot' June 1999) and on National Geographic ('Top Cat' 2000) - I've got both on an old VHS tape.

Considering the work they do as a wildlife hospital / rehabiliation centre it would be a great shame if they ceased operating. Such dedicated people deserve support - one banker's bonus would keep them going for a lifetime!!!

 

[camsnan]

We visited Fletchers and the Wild Life Centre last Sunday, took our little Granddaughter, she loved seeing all the birds and animals housed in there, although I did feel that the caged Lynx didn't have much space poor thing. Not many people there at all, as someone else mentioned the bad weather must be to blame. I also noticed how all the garden furniture and barbecues are reduced, know one is buying them either, think I have only sat in my garden a hand full of times this summer! We did have a lovely meal in Fletchers Cafe though, all very nice as it was so quiet! What a miserable summer, hope we get a nice dry and sunny autumn.

 

[My Name is URL]

I also noticed how all the garden furniture and barbecues are reduced,

Any large pots reduced (ceramic or teracotta)... looking for some nice cheap ones but need to be quite large. Picked a couple of bargains up last year from Dobbies but was end of Autumn.

 

[Colkai]

I've volunteered there for 12 years now. To answer the comment by 'Vex' regarding the enclosures, repairs and upgrades are always an ongoing process and in the last couple of years, the centre has worked hard to raise funds to improve and expand the enclosures where possible.
As for Buster the Lynx, the enclosure is considerably larger than where he came from and is as large as could be built given the land space. It's quite surprising just what background the animals come from, even when coming from "big zoos". Actually, Buster is soon to be rehomed as we have found a place for him where his enclosure will be even larger than the whole of Gentleshaw widllife centre, plus he gets a girlfriend into the bargain! (Lucky Lad).
I know Jenny, (the director), would dearly love more land, but alas, that also involves money and a lot of it, still waiting on that lottery win.

I can say one thing with conviction, the family that run the centre put a lot of sweat and tears into it and every penny that comes in gets poured back into the centre and the welfare of the animals. It is a strictly non-profit charity. Plus, as far as we know, is the only actual *registered* charity in Staffordshire for bird of prey rescue and rehabilitation. There are lots of "centres", but you do not actually have to be a registered charity to set up a place, just have the finance to do so, (something that surprised me).
One of the many reasons I've been involved for so long is the admiration of the passion the family has for what they do and their commitment to the welfare of their charges.

I agree, it would be lovely to advertise in lots of papers and magazines, alas, the cost of adverts is prohibitive and in the past, there seems to have been no obvious increase in "bods through the door" when adverts have been placed. My wife and I looked into "donating" an advert recently, even a credit card sized one, if in colour, was costing a couple of hundred quid, that's almost the weekly food bill! EEK. That sort of money can be put to better use elsewhere.
Heck, Gentleshaw could probably survive for years and years on just the advertising annual advertising budget of Chester Zoo. :-p

I will freely admit my post is very biased having been involved with Gentleshaw for so long, but I'd like to think that such a length of support as an unpaid volunteer tells it's own story.

 

[My Name is URL]

Great to hear from you Colkai - RE: advertising, perhaps if you hang around and become a regular, you might be able to come to an agreement with Admin

 

[1JKz]

I went along on Sunday (29.07.12), great place, i had no idea how big the place was, considering i had never heard of it.

I will be going along again soon i'm sure, and i'm convinced they do a great job.

Those that may raise concerns regarding the health and well being of the animals, have only got to look at where these animals have been and come from in regards their previous 'owners', it's the original source that creates the problems, a place like Gentleshaw can only do their very best to ensure the animal has a better life than where it once came.

As it was my first visit, i couldn't help but compare it to Amerton farm (sorry, i try not to do that) and can say Gentleshaw has more to offer in regards to outdoor space for kids and a more clean (and possibly enjoyable, depending on who you are) environment for both visitors and animals.

Good luck and keep up the good work, though the advertising/marketing of the place could be better.

 

[Colkai]

Many thanks for the comments, you're right, sometimes, as badly as an animal may have been treated, arriving at the likes of Gentleshaw is still a bonus to the alternatives. Alas, some animals are not so lucky and the owners would, at best, rather dump them, than take them to a sanctuary where they may find at least a comfortable life.
It's one part of the job I do not envy the boss, having to smile sweetly at someone who has abused an animal, I've seen things that make my blood boil, but if you don't "play nice" , they may well walk away and "dispose" of it. As with all things, the welfare must come first.
Then again, there is nothing so rewarding as seeing a raptor that was neglected come on and end up enjoying life working as part of the flying team, that's pretty awesome.

 

[The Hawk]

My earlier post prompted me to dig out the two VHS tapes of the television programmes I've seen featuring Gentleshaw, that Discovery Television's 'Pick The Pilot' from June 1999 and National Geographic's 'Top Cat' from 2000.

I've now managed to get a DVD copy of 'Top Cat' from www.froghopperdvds.co.uk. This featured a family of Caracals (think big cats that can leap into the air) that were taken on by Gentleshaw, before being returned to the semi-wild in South Africa. Most of the footage features their slow reintroduction to their new home in South Africa, but there is some coverage of their stay at Gentleshaw.

Unfortunately, I've not been able to get hold of a DVD copy of 'Pick The Pilot', which focussed entirely on Gentleshaw, so I'll have to see if I can find someone to transfer my VHS copy across for me.

 

[Colkai]

Don't think I've ever heard of the "Pick The Pilot", though I did transfer all the video for topcat for the family. They actually filmed at the centre for days and days for those few shots.