01/07/2026
ISLA NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE
DEVASTATING NEWS
Back in December 2025 we were informed by the Landlords of Taylor Business Park that our Lease, which was due for renewal, would only be for a maximum of 3 years as they wished to build more commercial units on the piece of land we currently occupy, along with two meadows to the front of the site.
However, as part of the final lease renewal they have also offered us a small financial ‘inducement’ that decreases with each of the 3 years to supposedly help us re-locate (leave before the end of year 1, £15k, Year 2, £10k or Year 3, £5k). Sadly, this amount is a drop in the ocean compared to what we would need to find a new site paying for another full Planning application, moving and fully rebuilding the whole Centre. We would then not be able to open until we acquired a new Zoo Licence following inspection, again taking time and costing money.
We therefore contacted the Landlord immediately and asked them to reconsider but sadly we didn’t receive a response for nearly two months, and then just a letter from their Solicitor with the terms of the new Lease. We have now finally had a response confirming their intention to develop the site.
After having to re-locate and re-build 4 times we thought we finally had a permanent home here and that the birds were at last safe.
Unfortunately, due to ongoing health issues, Ian & Carole had made the decision last year to pass the Centre into the care of new owners. Talks had been ongoing with possible new owners who would carry on the work that we do. The Welfare of the birds, Raccoon and Ferrets have always been our utmost priority and finding the right people was very important.
We have dedicated the last 17 years to Rescue and Conservation, working 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Our Phone is on 24/7. Over those years we have often had to deal with cases of extreme cruelty and neglect, with assistance from the RSPCA and the Police, and are proud to say we have managed to provide care and safe housing for all those birds. Our constant Rescue, Rehabilitation and release of wild injured Birds of Prey contributes to the number of protected species such as Peregrines and Barn Owls along with many other species. [JB1.1]We are all Volunteers here, nobody takes a wage, our team of Volunteers help to make all this possible and every penny we make goes back into the running of the Centre and the care of our Residents and Rescues. In 2025 alone we dealt with 71 Rescues. This was actually a quiet year due to Avian Flu restrictions. Since the start of the Centre we have dealt with over 2,000 rescues.
We need to save the future of the Centre to ultimately save the lives of those that we care for. Yes, we may be able to find homes for some of them but the majority would face the possibility of Euthanasia. We can’t let that happen, so what can we do?
1. Will the Landlords reconsider? (They will need Planning Permission to build on here as the Land is still designated on the Warrington Borough Council Adopted Local Plan 2021/22 to 2038/39 as Greenbelt (GB1) and HS2 Safeguarded Land).
2. Is anybody willing to take on the Centre now with the prospect of having to relocate within the 3 years?
3. Does anybody have a suitable piece of land, within close proximity, that the Centre could relocate to, Subject to Planning Permission?
4. Can we raise the funding and the bodies required to build a New Centre and also find the right people to run it? People who have the same ethics as we do.
So many questions and so much uncertainty but we will do everything we can to protect our Birds, Raccoon & Ferrets and all the Wild Birds of Prey who need our help, every single day of the year. Wildlife never has a day off, and neither do we.
Matt Smith our Local Labour Councillor has very kindly supported us in the past and has vowed his full support again.
We would now like to ask for your support again, as many of you have very kindly supported us in the past. Any ideas, suggestions or offers of support are welcome and will be treated with complete confidentiality.
Please contact Carole at the Centre in the first instance on 07957416883 or email to [email protected]
Thank you
GO Fund Me Fundraiser - https://www.gofundme.com/f/wild-wings-birds-of-prey
Thank you so much to everybody who has shared and for all your very kind comments. Your support means everything to us at this difficult time.
