ARTIST impressions for a planned safari park which could bring the African savannah to Redditch have been revealed.

The proposed Heart of England Wildlife Park features modern, spacious exhibits for threatened species such as endangered zebra, ostrich and African lions.

The project is the brainchild of former teacher Martin Blyth from Redditch, who quit his job to pursue his aspiration of building a world class wildlife park.

He hopes to raise an additional £150,000 by allowing fellow animal lovers and zoo enthusiasts to join an online community which will help shape the future of the zoo. The project has already received public and corporate pledges in excess of £44,000.

Mr Blyth says that the preferred site for the zoo is at Forge Mill.

He said: “I’ve been looking for a site nationally for the last three years, but since late March we’ve been working on plans to build Heart of England Wildlife Park in Redditch. Our preferred site is in the north of Redditch at Forge Mill.

“We’ve been in constant discussion about the viability of this site and we are waiting for pre-application advice from Historic England before we can advance further.

“The proposed site is close to the nationally significant Bordesley Abbey ruins and we are keen to work with Historic England to ensure that Heart of England Wildlife Park can play a significant role in safeguarding the monument for future generations whilst also increasing attendance figures to the site and improving the educational role it plays in the community.”

Plans for a zoo at the Forge Mill site had previously been developed in the 1960s as part of the Abbey Park master plan - but this did not come to fruition.

In the event of a decision by Historic England to not permit development on the preferred location, two contingency sites have been identified in the area as possible alternatives for the park.

It is estimated that the park could welcome up to 100,000 visitors within twelve months of opening.

Ambitious plans are in place which could see the restaurant and gift shop alongside the first animal enclosures open as soon as Easter 2021 subject to planning approval.