Bird sanctuary hopeful of new site

Want to buy this photo?

New chairperson Carley Smith

A new bird and wildlife sanctuary meets tonight (Wednesday 23 June 2010) to discuss plans to open later this year.

Three Owls, another sanctuary in Norden, was closed down in February due to not meeting zoo-licence criteria.

Chairperson Carley Smith is hopeful of a positive outcome but lots of work has to be done, starting from the top:

“We will need a name change because it was going to be Watkinson’s in memory of the founder of Three Owls (Eileen), but Three Owls says we have no permission. So it is in our best interest to start afresh.

“We’ve elected a committee and got a chairperson, vice-chairperson (Barrie Forshaw), and treasurer (Nigel Morelle). We just need to re-register the charity.”

The main agenda at the meeting will be funding and location. “We’re hopeful that we will find out more about a new site,” said Ms Smith. “There is a stretch of parkway near to Queens Park and we are very confident of securing the location. Other options are on Norden cemetery and we also have another provisional back-up location.

“We’ve missed most of our financial backing this year, but we are hoping to complete the building by the end of the year, though it’s nothing concrete and is open-ended.” 

Three owls had to close down due to not meeting zoo-licensing legislation, but Ms Smith revealed that this will not be a stumbling-block:

“We can build within zoo-licence regulations because it’s a new site. We have had good legal advice from the Council, who are supporting us.”

The meeting will be at the Volunteer Centre Rochdale (CVS) office in Broadfield Park at 6.30pm. Anybody is welcome to attend. Call Ms Smith on 07725749002 for more information.