The attraction celebrated its 50th anniversary just two years ago but it will close soon over concerns it has become ‘out of date’. The entire collection of exotic species, which include penguins and flamingoes, will now be rehomed and the area where the aviaries are will become a woodland walk. The adjacent Farm Experience will remain with some animals.
A statement from the Harewood House Trust said: “Harewood’s Bird Garden is now over 50 years old and, as visitors have pointed out to us consistently over the past few years, the birds’ environment is not on a par with more up-to-date zoos. At Harewood’s last zoo inspection, the team were praised for their excellent care and the health of the birds, but sadly they identified many problems with the site’s physical infrastructure that the charity cannot sustain.
“Over the last six months we have been researching options for the charity going forwards, however, with a need for a £4 million investment to just the Bird Garden alone, the Trust has had to make the incredibly difficult decision to close this part of the Harewood experience. The Trust simply cannot make the Bird Garden the place that we, and you, all want it to be."
The exact date of the closure will be published later in the year, once homes have been found for the animals.
5. Penguin parents Geoff and Minnie
Harewood House bird garden conservation officer Celine Kerouanton feeds penguin parents Geoff and mum Minnie with their nine week old chick in 2013 Photo: Tony Johnson
6. Humboult penguins enclosure
Lisa Bath the Penguin keeper at the Harewood House bird garden cleaning out one of the pools in the Humboult penguins enclosure in 2014 Photo: Gary Longbottom.
7. Chilean Flamingos
Five of the garden's 13 Chilean Flamingos reached the grand age of 50 in 2017 Photo: James Hardisty
8. Humboldt penguins
The bird garden has kept Humboldt penguins since 1970 when the bird garden opened. Pictured here in freezing tempertures in 2003 Photo: Gary Longbottom