A new zoo featuring meerkats, flamingos and owls could open in Greater Manchester. Hopwood Hall College created livestock and horticultural zones at its Middleton Campus nearly 10 years ago - allowing it to offer an animal management education course unique within the city region.
Now it wants to open up the various animal enclosures to the public outside of study time - creating Greater Manchester’s first zoo since Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, which closed in 1977. The college, on Rochdale Road, is hoping to run the eight-acre site more commercially, in order to bring in extra cash to maintain the facility for educational purposes.
This could include events such as birthday parties and school visits as well as 'animal experiences' with creatures such as meerkats, flamingos and owls. Planning papers submitted to Rochdale council read: “The college sees this offering as a really positive thing in the community with social value providing a unique offering to the community as well as inspiring younger people to get into the associated courses and careers with animals.
