Yorkshire Wildlife Park aims to attract 1.5m visitors a year

Alongside BGF, Lloyds Bank has also committed an £18m debt facility which, together with BGF’s investment, will support the expansion of YWP’s existing park with the aim of doubling its size.

It aims to increase the annual visitor numbers from 750,000 to 1.5 million.

A spokesman said: "At the new entrance to the park, there will also be a new and free to enter boutique leisure destination, expected to attract its own local audience as well as providing unique facilities for the day visitors to the Wildlife Park".

"Over the bank holiday weekend, the Park welcomed visitors to new attractions, such as the Himalayan Pass and Experience Ethiopia, which opened last month. People can now view hyenas, red pandas, and smooth-coated otters at the attraction."

The spokesman added: " Despite the well-documented challenges facing the business and wider sector, BGF has supported the park and enabled the expansion development to continue."

Set up in 2008 by founder directors Steve Minion, John Minion, Cheryl Williams and Neville Williams, the Doncaster-based Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to more than 450 animals.

The statement added: "With a staff of 300, the park has made a significant contribution to the local economy over the last 11 years and in 2019 hosted educational visits of more than 88,000 school children with more than 33,000 of those learners benefiting from its award-winning education programmes taught by the Education Team.

"This phased development will ultimately include a new experiential themed restaurant with an adjacent giant children’s playbarn, two other restaurants, a new lightly wildlife-themed hotel, a lifestyle retail offering and a flexible venue for conferences and events. The new development will cater for both the family and corporate market."

As part of the deal, Steve Brown, a founding director of Center Parcs UK and non-executive Chair of BGF-backed holiday park developer Coppergreen, has also joined the YWP board as non-executive Chair.

John Minion, CEO of Yorkshire Wildlife Park, commented: “Our founding mission at YWP was to create a dynamic wildlife experience that contributes to the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale.

"Thanks to the hard work of a talented and driven local team, we have developed an award-winning, interactive park with ground-breaking animal reserves and facilities that plays a vital role in both the local economy and international welfare programmes.

"We’re delighted to welcome BGF on board to support our plans to expand our offering to position YWP as a destination, providing one of the stand-out visitor experiences in the country.”

Barry Jackson, Investor at BGF, commented: “Over the last eleven years, YWP has earned an international reputation for conservation, animal welfare and high-quality visitor experiences.

"John and the team have an ambitious and clear strategy for growth, and we’re delighted to be supporting the business as it expands its facilities to be able to rescue more animals and allow more visitors to be educated and inspired by its conservation efforts.”

Visitors to the Wildlife Park also help raise funds through donations for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation. This charity was created in 2013 to be a catalyst for inspiring people to support conservation and welfare

The investment was led for BGF by Barry Jackson and Mark Rigby.

The advisers to the transaction were: BGF: Gordons - James Fawcett (legal) Yorkshire Wildlife Park: Shoosmiths - James Foster (legal) Lloyds: Addleshaw Goddard (legal).

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James Mitchinson