Wildlife centre grants bird charity's wish with well collection

WISHING well cash from a wildlife centre will be used to help monitor wild bird numbers.

The coins thrownn into the beautiful wishing well at the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre at North Anston have been totted up to £1,684.80, which will be handed over to the Sorby Breck Ringing Group.

The group catches wild birds with nets before tagging them with uniquely-numbered rings, allowing a record to be kept on the numbers sighted.

Group member Chris Lilley also places rings on the nestlings in bird boxes around the centre, which is one of only six locations in the UK where tree sparrow survival rates are regularly monitored.

Joanne McDonough, operations manager at the wildlife attraction, said: “We are very grateful to Chris, and the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, who voluntarily donate their time to help gather vital information for bird conservation. 

“The recent snowstorms show how easily bird numbers can suddenly drop, and we need to do whatever we can to help, in the hope that no more animal species become extinct.”