PLEASE NOTE - Gentleshaw will be closed on the 12th and 13th July 2008.

Gentleshaw Wildlife centre is a small sanctuary for exotic animals and birds of prey. As well as a hospital unit for the treatment of wild raptors (Not on display), the centre is home to over 30 different species of Bird of prey, Primate, Reptile, Invertebrate, Raccoons, Cats and many more. .

Our opening times are 10:30 am until 4:30 pm,
We are open 6 days a week,
(we are closed on Tuesdays, except during school holidays, when we are open 7 days a week)

Admission is £3.00 per adult and £2.00 for children and OAP's. (Children under 3 get FREE entry).

The centre has been at its current base in Eccleshall, Staffordshire for fourteen years. Although its founder the late Rob Smith, had been rescuing birds of prey and animals for many years before, the centre was set up and opened to the public on 9th April 1993. Starting as a home for just a few unwanted animals and birds the centre soon began to take in more and more rescued animals.

Some of the animals we take in have never seen their own kind before, this can have terrible effects on species such as primates as they are naturally sociable. Some animals have not been fed the correct food, Some kept in the wrong type of housing and some of the birds come in never having been able to stretch their wings or see day light.
We have many improvements we would like to make and projects we wish to complete, only lack of funding stands in our way as we rely soley on donations from the public and money raised by people coming to the centre as visitors or on one of our Bird Of Prey experiences. We always give our residents the best we can with the resources we have. Our aim is always to give safe and caring homes to animals which have no where else to go and to provide them with a much better quality of life than they had before coming to us.

We fly some of the birds every day if the weather is suitable. In winter the birds are allowed to gain weight though training flights may still be done, again this depends on the conditions and cannot be guaranteed. Any flights are always at the discretion of the falconer.

The flying displays provide exercise for the birds, as well as entertainment for the visitors. The birds are tethered for their own safety, as birds of prey would see each other as a possible meal if they were still in the wild.

We are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild birds of prey and also provide educational talks to schools and visitor groups to help people become more aware of the dangers these superb creatures face.

If you would like more information on the bird species, along with a brief look at falconry and falconry terms, there is an extended guide for sale in the shop at the wildlife centre, visitors are always welcome and the centre is open all year round.

Should you be unable to visit the centre, you may be interested to know that we are regularly asked to provide outside 'static displays', by local shopping centres and Pets At Home stores around the region.

To see if we have a display of birds within your area, click on the image below which will give you a list of upcoming "appearances" by our birds. Though we do not fly the birds at these displays, you are more than welcome to talk to the staff and meet the birds 'up-close'