The Charity
The National Parrot Sanctuary is the back bone of Lincolnshire Wildlife Park and is still to this day, the most important aspect of our success. We are now one of the largest parrot sanctuaries in the world, if not ‘The Largest’. Everything we do is based around offering captive animals a more fulfilled life. Take a look at what makes us so unique and learn more about our much needed charity.
Take a look at our most recent Annual Report HERE
Our Mission Statement
To create an inclusive and accessible sanctuary – a safe place for both animals and people, where every interaction provides an opportunity; making use of the environment to ignite learning and promote a wider understanding of animal welfare and the natural world to inspire future generations.
Our Vision
- To ensure all our animals feel valued, safe, free, and supported to enable them to explore and develop to their full potential.
- To promote our environment as a therapeutic tool to support the health and wellbeing of both animals and people.
- To enable both animals and people to view themselves and the world positively.
- To maintain, strengthen and develop our dedicated and committed staff and volunteer team, with a passion for caring for and supporting animals and people.
- To ensure the Parrot Zoo Trust is recognised as a Centre of Excellence, delivering a fully compliant, outstanding service that meets the needs of animals and people.
- To make sure our work is known, shared, and valued, wherever our commitment and positive impact is felt.
Our Aims
- To relieve the suffering of animals who need long-term sanctuary.
- To use research to advance learning and innovation in the care and wellbeing of animals and people.
- To make best use of the resources available to improve the lives of animals and people.
- To provide a safe space to bring people closer to the natural environment.
- To provide opportunities for learning about animals and the environment and how people’s positive contributions impact on the natural world.
- To provide opportunities and support to enable successful volunteering placements.
- To collaborate with partners to raise awareness of how the charity can provide support for people and animals in the community.
- To engage with the community to promote learning and awareness of the charity aims.
- To engage with the community to support the sustainability of the charity.
- To promote a wider understanding of the sustainable conservation of biodiversity globally and locally.
Our History
Embark on a journey with us to create a haven that transcends boundaries, an inclusive and accessible sanctuary, a safe haven where animals and people thrive together. Each interaction unfolds an opportunity, utilising the environment to spark learning and foster a profound understanding of animal welfare and the natural world, igniting inspiration for future generations.
Our story unfolds with Steve Nichols BCAv, the visionary behind The National Parrot Sanctuary. In the early 1990s, driven by a passion for parrots with extensive knowledge based on information about these extraordinary creatures, he founded an organisation that began by assisting local parrot owners in Sheffield. Swiftly gaining recognition from national and local animal welfare bodies, we evolved into a global beacon for parrot-related guidance.
Within a year, the journey expanded, leading us to identify the perfect canvas in rural Lincolnshire, a one-acre piece of land that became the foundation for our sanctuary. Over the years, The Parrot Zoo Trust transformed into a beacon of hope, celebrating two decades as a charity in 2023. Today, we extend our support to a diverse array of mammals and birds, including the largest collection of Bengal Tigers in the UK.
As we continue to evolve, our commitment remains unwavering to provide a sanctuary for exotic animals, with over 99.8% of our residents having been rescued. The National Parrot Sanctuary stands as a testament to our unique and vital role, the largest facility of its kind in the UK, shaping the core of our existence. Join us in preserving and cherishing the beauty of our shared sanctuary.
After viewing over 150 potential sites and travelling nearly 10,000 miles he finally located a site situated in Lincolnshire. It was a flat piece of land measuring approximately 1 acre with not one plant on it, but was a perfect blank canvas to design the centre; that was to become The National Parrot Sanctuary.
Finally in 2003 and after all the amazing work achieved by the family in building the centre, it was now in a position to open the doors; but more than that, the organisation could set the foundation stones to becoming one of the largest parrot rescues in the World.
After only a very short while it was realised that this space was never going to be enough to create the refuge for the many birds that needed help. So over the next few years that one acre grew to an area that now spans to well over 20, this should easily give future-proof security for any relevant developments.
Rehoming
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park assists in the re-homing of all exotic species of animal, bird or reptile across the country.
Get Involved
You can help us, help the animals!
Whether it be fund raising, donation to our charity or our Amazon wish-list!
Parrot Zoo Trust
The National Parrot Sanctuary, offering over 30 years of parrot care and rehabilitation.
Fundraisers
Meet our in-house Fund Raiser Eileen Miller & see the amazing work you can help her with!
Our Patrons
Derren Brown
In 2004 Derren Brown became the proud patron (or as he likes to be known, The Patron Saint) of the registered charity the Parrot Zoo Trust. Having had parrots for many years, with an innate fascination for these creatures, it was a natural process to become involved with what is now, probably the worlds largest parrot rescue charity. It is the only one of its type in the United Kingdom to offer long term sanctuary to the many parrots and parakeets that need their assistance.
The Lord Lieutenant
Mr Toby Dennis has been the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire since 2015. The Lord Lieutenancy is an honorary position, apolitical and unpaid. However, each Lord Lieutenant is still personally appointed by the monarch to be his or her representative in their respective counties.
“I am delighted to be a Patron of the Charity and applaud the whole team for their hard work, dedication, and commitment. I am pleased to be a part of a team that is delivering innovative, exciting, and ambitious projects for the continued success of the Park. The Park is a remarkable place and the team are exceptional people.”
Our Ambasadors
Ivan Massow
Entrepreneur
Ivan is a well known British financial services entrepreneur and media personality. Ivan collects figurative contempory art, often visiting art colleges and studios.
“Most of us like an animal of some description, but few dedicate their entire lives to caring for them. I am proud to be a personal supporter of the Parrot Zoo Trust, a wonderful charity with Steve Nichols at the helm of a dedicated team of carers, who all relentlessly and selflessly offer needy creatures one-to-one attention 24 hours a day for 365 days every year.”
Cleo Rocos
Businesswoman & actress
Cleo is a British acrtess, comedian, businesswoman and presenter that starred alongside Kenny Everett. She also soemtimes presents on BBC Radio London and has had a long acting career.
“As an Ambassador I am very proud to be associated with such a unique animal charity. As a parrot owner myself for over 20 years, I know firsthand of the time and dedication required to look after just one bird, so caring for the hundreds that these amazing guys and girls do daily is absolutely awe-inspiring.”
Danny Miller
Actor
Danny Miller is well known for his role as Aaron Dingle in the hit TV Soap Opera, Emmerdale. He also starred on the 21st series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and won.
“I am proud to become an Ambassador of Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, everyone at the Park works so hard to give these beautiful animals a great home when they are most in need.”
Meet Our Trustees
Karen Parsons
Chairperson
Karen has worked and volunteered within the voluntary sector for over 30 years, in sector development including strategic development, safeguarding, workforce reform, play and early years.
Throughout her working life Karen has focused on partnership working and sees it as an integral part of daily work, providing opportunities to influence and develop services whilst ensuring the voice of local Voluntary and community is heard.
Karen strongly believes in the ethos of an integrated environment, making the best use of resources available to us and adding value to ensure better outcomes for all. To achieve this Karen ensures that the performance of the organisation meets the needs of beneficiaries and stakeholders by engaging the team through a continuous cycle of analysis, strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and review.
Karen joined the Parrot Zoo Trust in June 2022 as the Chairperson.
John Roper
Trustee
Jon Bielby
Trustee
I work at Liverpool John Moores University as a lecturer and researcher. I have worked in the interface between science, conservation, welfare, and public engagement for over 20 years, having first worked at the Zoological Society of London, and more recently at Chester Zoo before starting my current role in 2018. I’ve worked with and researched many different types of topics, such as the IUCN Red List of threatened species; the efficacy of badger culling as a means of controlling bovine TB in cattle; age-related diseases in captive big cats; and the online trade in reptiles in the UK. In doing so I’ve worked with people from many different sectors and organisations, including Dogs Trust, Association of Zoo and Exotic Vet Nurses, the IUCN, civil servants, and curators and keepers at multiple living collections and sanctuaries.
I love the aims, ethos and approach of the Parrot Zoo Trust, and I am really excited and supporting the work of the charity in whatever way I can.
Jon Mansfield
Vice-chair
Jon is a former senior officer Royal Air Force navigator who had a second career working for a US defence contractor supporting a NATO education and training facility. More recently, Jon is the founder and director of his own business that provides educational and organisational support to military contracts, and more general support to a Lincolnshire-based charity that supports the armed forces community. Jon became a trustee in December 2023 and is keen to learn as much as possible about the Park’s animals, staff, and volunteers so that he can repay the trust shown in him by the Board of Trustees.
Kirsty Johnson
HEALTH & SAFETY
Hi! I’m Kirsty, originally from Somerset but now live in Lincolnshire with my tiny chihuahua called Gizmo. In my spare time I enjoy listening to music, drinking coffee and getting outside for long walks with Gizmo.
I’ve been involved in health and safety within the NHS for around 10 years and when the opportunity to work with Lincs Wildlife Park presented itself, I was over the moon.
The Parrot Zoo Trust charity does some truly brilliant work and I’m so happy to be able to contribute in the respect of making sure all staff, animals and visitors to the Park are able to be kept safe and have a great time!
Travelers’ Choice 2024
Many travellers far and wide go to Trip Advisor for help and advice on where to go for a day out. Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has been given the Certificate of excellence for the last 5 years running and we intend on keeping it that way!
Click on the link below to be taken straight to our page and see what our visitors say about the park or to write your own personal take on us!