Our history

Our organisation was founded by Mr. Steve Nichols in the early 1990’s, after many years studying the behaviour of parrots, and realising there were very few sources of information relating to these spectacular creatures.

Steve initially developed the organisation to help parrot owners around his home town of Sheffield – but it wasn’t long before demand outgrew these humble beginnings, and a national call centre was launched to assist people, and their parrots, from around the globe.

Within 12 months, Steve’s work was being recognised by national and local animal welfare bodies such as the RSPCA, RSPB, and Police Forces nationwide; Steve became the first and only port of call for anyone needing assistance with parrot-related issues.

After two years of intense work, travel of over 100,000 miles, visits to over 200 people and assisting more than 600 parrots in ‘person’, the organisation and Steve began receiving lots of media interest.

It soon became apparent that, however good their intentions, not everyone was able to look after their parrots to the extent that was needed, begging the question; ‘What happens to all the unwanted parrots’?

Obviously, Steve made the decision to step in and help, but only on a small scale to begin with. While running his construction business in Sheffield, Steve took in a small number of birds that needed special help and started travelling the country giving educational talks on the pros and cons of owning a parrot as a family pet. Steve also started visiting children’s hospices with the parrots to provide some light relief and learning about these wonderful birds.

Unfortunately, visits were short lived because of the possible risk of infection, meaning that Steve was unable to continue, very much to the disappointment of all those involved and the birds who clearly loved visiting.

It was at this point, everything changed. Steve made the decision to take things to another level and find a suitable location to build a sanctuary, where he could offer long-term rehabilitation and care to more birds and create a safe environment for children to visit.

After viewing over 150 potential sites and travelling more than 10,000 miles throughout the UK, Steve found the perfect site in Lincolnshire; a flat, featureless one-acre piece of land – and the perfect blank canvas to realise his dream. This land was to become known as ‘The National Parrot Sanctuary’. And so, in 1995, The Parrot Zoo Trust - Lincolnshire Wildlife Park was born.

The Parrot Zoo Trust (Registered Charity) now receives more than 250,000 email enquiries and over 50,000 telephone calls each year.

In 2003, and as a result of the amazing work and dedication, we were granted a UK Zoo Licence.

We were finally able to open the doors to the public, but more than that, we began to realise the dream of becoming one of the largest parrot rescue centres in the world.

Steve and the Trustees quickly realised that one acre was never going to be enough to create the place of refuge envisaged, so over the years that one acre has gradually increased to over 30 acres - future-proofing the site for any additional expansion.

In 2008 the Parrot Zoo Trust felt they were able to assist more amazing creatures - this time, mammals.

As before, with the parrot community, calls from the public started to roll in – and before long we were offering advice to people with exotic pets and/or in possession of a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animal licence).

People wanted advice and support for Meerkats to Marmosets, and even the odd Tortoise. Over the next few years, a vast array of mammals arrived and were given their forever home receiving care and love in our luxury enclosures. What happened next was never part of the ‘dream plan’.

In 2014 Steve received a call from the local council advising him that there were several big cats, specifically tigers, in the county. These were kept by the public and they asked if we would be able to help with their re-homing.

Their needs varied, but without help and a new home, the future was bleak for these beautiful animals, they would almost certainly have to be euthanised, a tragedy.

After lengthy discussions between Trustees and staff, the decision was made to help these spectacular creatures and put a long-term plan together, to offer a safe and secure future for them.

Skipping forward to 2021, the charity now provides home to the largest collection of parrots in the country, and the largest collection of Bengal Tigers who live and play in one of the best big cat facilities – Bengal Gardens.

To this day we remain dedicated to helping captive exotic animals, with 99.8% of all the animals within the sanctuary rescued.

The Parrot Zoo Trust – Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is now one of the country’s premier animal sanctuaries and Lincolnshire’s very own gem.