£12,000 raised for fire-hit wildlife centre
More than £12,000 has been raised to help rebuild a wildlife centre where animals died in a fire.
Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre in Eccleshall reopened on Thursday for the first time since the blaze, which killed three giant tortoises, a meerkat and around 15 fruit bats on March 25.
Volunteers have been working hard to repair the damage caused by the fire, which ripped through three enclosures after being started by a fault in the electrical heating system.
A GoFundMe pageset up by Ms Morgan received £6,580 from 395 donors in five days, while a JustGiving pageorganised by Amy Scholey raised £792, and a Facebook fundraising pagehas raised £4,745.
Basil the meerkat died in the fire while his partner Sybil escaped and the sanctuary is now on the hunt for a new partner for her.
Director Jenny Morgan posted on social media over the weekend saying: "Those that have offered help, skills or materials, we will be in touch. Clearing is almost finished. Some trees to be cut back next weekend and then we can get going. Please don't think we aren't utterly grateful for your offers.
"If anyone would like any bark chippings for their garden, feel free to come during opening hours. We have tons! A few pennies in the donation pot and you're welcome to as much as you like! No need to contact us, just turn up!"
The fire also involved power cables and left around 14 nearby properties without power, including Fletchers Garden Centre next door.
Basil and Sybil moved to the wildlife centre in Stone Road, which houses around 100 exotic animals and birds of prey, in 2013 after being rescued from "appalling" conditions at a mobile zoo.
They were given a new enclosure to live in in 2015 after another successful fundraising campaign.
