For thirty years David was a successful dairy farmer with an award-winning herd of pedigree Jersey cows. With the milk industry undergoing huge changes along with the demise of the Milk Marketing Board, it was time to re-think his farming policy so reluctantly the herd was sold in 1994.
Long before it became fashionable David had always been interested in conservation and British wildlife in particular. He was greatly inspired by the work those pioneering champions of conservation, Sir Peter Scott and Gerald Durrell, were doing at Slimbridge and Jersey respectively and by what the controversial casino owner John Aspinal was achieving with his zoos in Kent. Having sold the cows the realisation of his second childhood dream was possible, to have his own zoo and do something for conservation! The farm was slowly converted into a wildlife centre and nature reserve and opened as a visitor attraction in 2000 to raise awareness to the plight of our native wildlife.
Today the British Wildlife Centre is home to the finest collection of native wildlife in Britain with over 40 different species from tiny harvest mice to magnificent red deer, all living in large enclosures landscaped to reflect their natural habitat.
A Centre of excellence where the message is Conservation through Education.