The team behind the Botanic Gardens Aviary in Churchtown, near Southport, has issued a plea for the public not to donate to petitions or fundraisers not directly linked to The Botanic Gardens Community Association, following the announcement of the attraction's closure.
Closure Decision and Animal Welfare
Sefton Council confirmed the aviary, a free attraction at the park since 1939, will close after a review of animal welfare guidance and the ageing infrastructure. The aviary houses several exotic birds including Rosellas, Lovebirds, and Amazons. Green Sefton, the council's environmental arm, stated that euthanasia will not be considered at any stage, and volunteer support will be sought in the interim if needed. The animals are expected to be rehoused with organisations suitably skilled in animal welfare.
Community Response and Official Statement
In a social media post, the Botanic Gardens Aviaries team thanked the community for its support but clarified that they have not posted a petition themselves. The post read: 'We have NOT posted a petition at this time. Other people may have created petitions or fundraising pages on our behalf, but please do not send money to anyone who is not The Botanic Gardens Community Association.' The team added: 'We completely understand everyone's urgency and desire to help, and we are incredibly grateful. However, we need to approach this in the clearest and most effective way possible.'
The post also invited visitors to share memories and photos, stating: 'One positive to come from this difficult situation has been reading all of your wonderful stories and seeing just how much the aviary means to so many people. We will keep fighting to overturn this decision.'
Council's Rationale
Confirming the news on the Sefton Council website, Cllr Joanne Williams, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: 'We are proud to have continued running the aviary long after most other councils across the country stopped operating facilities housing animals entirely. It is no longer possible for it to operate to the high welfare standards that are rightly expected of a modern site. For that reason, the decision has been taken to oversee the aviary’s closure.' She added: 'While many will be saddened by this decision, I’d like to assure everyone that the animals’ welfare will continue to be our top priority.'
