Botanic Gardens aviary

The decision to close the Botanic Gardens Aviary was and is mainly due to concerns about animal welfare. As has been repeatedly acknowledged the closure also had a financial implication on the 2026/2027 budget and therefore was subject to the Councils financial budget setting process

The Aviary closure has been subject to the budget approval process that Sefton Council is expected to follow in line with strict government guidance to provide a balanced and sensible budget for the Borough.

Three meetings have taken place in 2026 which provided opportunity to discuss the 2026/2027 budget proposals, which included the decision relating to Botanic Gardens Aviary. 

They were:  

Overview & Scrutiny - Tuesday February 10th.

Cabinet - Thursday February 12th 

Full Council - Thursday February 26th.

Yes.

The decision to close the aviary was not taken lightly and Sefton Council appreciates that this is sad news for many people.

For many years there have been ongoing discussions around the future of Aviary at Botanic Gardens.

In 2016/17 the Council first considered proposals by the Botanic Gardens Community Association (BGCA) to manage both the fernery and aviary on site. Over time, active proposals only emerged for the fernery. The aviary continued to remain within the Council's remit. This was acknowledged as a temporary arrangement.

In 2019, with no viable arrangements coming forward for volunteers taking over staffing, the aviary was advertised on The Chest public procurement portal to see if any other expressions of interest might come forward.

A proposal was received by Rainbow Bird & Animal Rescue (RBAR) seeking a short leasehold of the aviary.

The Council made a number of checks on the suitability of the charity including inspections of their aviaries at North Wales before Heads of Terms were offered.

Negotiation progressed well before RBAR withdrew their interest, as commuting to the aviary was felt by some of their trustees to be barrier to making the proposal viable.

BGCA then indicated that to help sustain the future of the aviary they could direct their energies to supporting the running costs: Overall the Community Association brings in an average of £1,500 of income from the on site donation column.

The association agreed this was to be committed to the aviary to offset running costs.

While Green Sefton staff and volunteers have always ensured that the animals at the aviary get the best possible care, there are differing opinions over the role of aviaries in modern day Britain. Sefton Council had to consider all factors, including the state of infrastructure and the financial challenge of continuing to provide a suitable environment amid rising costs, and the decision was taken that the aviary should be closed. 

Discussions have taken place regularly around the desirability of keeping caged birds in a park setting, particularly due to understanding of welfare needs increasing significantly. UK law now recognises that all vertebrae and some invertebrates are sentient and are therefore able to see, hear, touch, taste, smell, feel pain and joy. A focus on welfare of the birds and animals means prioritising the physical and psychological health of them over human entertainment.

This would include a naturalistic environment to mimic natural habitats.

Sefton Council has proudly operated the aviary for many years, becoming in the process one of the last local authorities to manage a facility that houses animals. Unfortunately, continuing operations when accounting for factors like the need for updated infrastructure is no longer financially viable. 

Sefton Council is one of the last councils anywhere in England to operate a facility that houses animals. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to do so. 

The structure is over 80 years old and can no longer meet the physical, behavioural and psychological needs that in the view of experts cannot be fully met in an Aviary such as the one in the Botanical Gardens.

For example there are no barriers installed to prevent items and food being pushed through the bars. This has been a repeated issue and despite clear guidance advising visitors what food can and cannot be given, this is difficult to monitor and police.

There are also issues around the enforcement of dogs not coming into the Aviary area, despite this being clearly prohibited. Their presence causes distress to the birds and animals but is difficult to prevent in an open park setting.

We understand that the birds will need to spend the rest of their lives in captivity, but they should be able to live their lives in peaceful captivity and not for public enjoyment.

This is an operational decision that does not warrant public consultation.

Given the scale of the saving identified by closing the Aviary which is 0.017%, the level of assessment undertaken prior to the decision being made was proportionate – the saving is a small proportion of the Council’s overall budget and the key concern is ensuring that the best possible environment is provided for the birds. 

This is not something the Council is able to provide in a public park. However the details of the closure were provided in all relevant public documents in the lead up and including the budget at full council of February 2026.

Yes.

We have received advice and support from expert organisations, who between them have over 150 years experience in high level animal welfare.

These include the Born Free Foundation, PETA, the International Animal Protection Organisation In Defence of Animals and Freedom for Animals. 

No.

There is no truth in social media rumours that Sefton Council want to see the Botanic Gardens close nor have any plans to do so.

Following the removal of the aviary Green Sefton will work with willing volunteers and members of the community to best transform the space into an area that supports native wildlife.

This including native birds.

All of Sefton Council’s service areas have allocated budgets, with funding coming from a wide range of sources. In many cases, funding is awarded on the basis that it must be used on a particular project. 

Managing the aviary falls under Green Sefton’s operating budget. Unfortunately, due to financial restraints, Green Sefton will oversee its closure. 

Green Sefton staff have been fully informed of the decision and the reasons why. Staff members who work at the aviary could be offered an alternative role where possible. Trade Union Representatives have been informed to ensure transparency and to support early communication with the affected employees. 

The aviary is home to several bird species, including different types of parrots, as well as rabbits and guinea pigs. Every effort will be made to ensure that each animal finds a suitable and safe new home before the aviary is closed. Only bodies suitably skilled to provide the correct level of animal welfare will be considered. 

Euthanasia of any of the animals at the aviary has been completely ruled out. 

We are aware of the many challenges that face an aviary in the modern day, in terms of financing day-to-day operations, improving infrastructure and meeting welfare needs. With all factors in mind, and the need for aviary birds to be cared for 365 days a year, we know that it is likely to be difficult for any organisation to take over operations. 

In 2019, with no viable arrangements coming forward for volunteers taking over staffing, the aviary was advertised on The Chest public procurement portal to see if any other expressions of interest might come forward.

A proposal was received by Rainbow Bird & Animal Rescue (RBAR) seeking a short leasehold of the aviary.

The Council made a number of checks on the suitability of the charity including inspections of their aviaries at North Wales before Heads of Terms were offered.

Negotiation progressed well before RBAR withdrew their interest, as commuting to the aviary was felt by some of their trustees to be barrier to making the proposal viable.

We appreciate every person who has supported the aviary over the years and are grateful for the time and money that has been invested which assisted to keep the aviary open for a considerable length of time, we understand that this is sad news for them. The decision was not an easy one and reflects the challenge of maintaining an aviary with suitable animal welfare in the present day. 

Because the decision to close the aviary was not made lightly, there have been discussions since February as to how it should be managed with the most possible support given to staff and with animal welfare as a priority. The Borough-wide elections in May delayed some of these discussions.

The guidelines for animal welfare follow what is known as the Five Freedoms, which is also reflected in the duty of responsibility laid out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act states that the animals’ needs are those of: 

• A suitable environment 

• A suitable diet 

• Being able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns 

• Being housed with (or apart from) other animals 

• Protection from pain, injury, suffering and disease

Green Sefton staff have worked tirelessly to protect and care for the animals, following guidance on the right feed to use and how to encourage natural behaviour. 

However, the infrastructure is dated and, while funds gathered by Sefton Council and community groups have helped toward remedial work, the site is not a suitable long-term home for the animals. There have previously been security issues including rats entering the cages and killing birds. 

Additionally, there are concerns about the size of the site and its suitability to provide a long-term home for birds. 

A series of repairs have been made to the aviary in recent years, but improvements – or even total restructure – would be needed for the cages, the indoor accommodation and the roof. There is not a concrete figure but could be as high as a six-figure sum, according to internal estimates. 

That is without considering the size of the site itself, which cannot be expanded for any price due to its location. Many modern aviaries are a much larger size than the Botanic Gardens site so that birds can exhibit their normal behaviour. 

Every effort will be made to rehome the animals before the closure. All individuals and organisations are welcome to submit their interest in taking on any number of the animals. We will only consider rehoming them with people who are suitably skilled in animal welfare. 

After the decision was made, aviary staff were asked to cease accepting bird donations. The focus is now on re-homing the birds with someone suitably qualified to look after them. 

The aviary will continue operating to the same standards and with the same investment until its closure. That means that volunteers are still welcome to donate whatever time they see fit to help with its running. After the decision was made, the aviary staff were asked to stop accepting donations of birds.