Tiny zoo near Shropshire wins awards and admiration but still urgently needs a new home

Wild Zoological Park was named Highly Commended in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the 2026 Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards, recognising its growing impact as a unique, family-friendly destination.

But for months now, the team behind the popular family-run zoo near Wolverhampton say they need urgent help to survive.

As previously reported by the Express & Star, on sunny days Wild, located on the Halfpenny Green Wine Estate site at Bobbington, South Staffordshire, is bustling with families.

In the autumn and winter, however, it’s a different story.  Winter months have brought £40,000-a-month running costs.

Georgia Hollinshead, who runs the zoo with her brother Zak and mum Caroline Gautier and a dedicated team of zookeepers and staff, said: “ We are still actively looking for a new site however it needs to be perfect due to the free flying bird show - no overhead cables, good vision. We haven't found anything currently but still looking.”

The zoo, which is home to animals from around the world including lemurs, meerkats, wallabies, an emu, otters, a wide variety of birds and parrakeets, reptiles and creepy-crawlies, was founded in 2016 by Zac and it has garnered rave reviews on the likes of Tripadvisor, Facebook and Google from satisfied visitors.

Around 300 people a day pour through the doors each day in peak season to watch the UK’s largest free flying bird shows and other educational shows.

For Wild, the recognition comes at a time of both excitement and challenge.

Organisers say finding the right location is essential, particularly due to their popular free-flying bird show, which requires specific conditions including clear airspace without overhead cables and good visibility for visitors.

While a suitable location has yet to be secured, the team say the search is ongoing as they look to safeguard the future of the attraction.

The park has recently welcomed a new arrival — a young emu named Esmeralda, who is only a few weeks old but already growing rapidly. The fluffy newcomer is quickly becoming a favourite among visitors and staff alike.

Young visitors such as three-year-old Hallie Hollinshead-Parkes have also been enjoying the experience. Hallie attends the park’s “Zoo Tots” programme, an early years initiative which runs four mornings a week and introduces children to animals through hands-on learning and play.

Supporters are being encouraged to back the park during this period, as it works to build on its award-winning success while securing a new home.

The latest recognition at the tourism awards highlights the park’s importance to the local visitor economy — and its determination to continue growing despite the challenges ahead.

The zoo set up a GoFundMe account to help with the move here.