Berkshire's living rainforest launches energy appeal
Electricity bills at the tourist and education attraction have trebled
Last updated 16th Jan 2024
A tropical rain forest visitor attraction in west Berkshire has appealed for help to pay their winter energy bills.
The Living Rain forest attracts around a hundred thousand visitors a year and houses 850 tropical plants and animal species in three glass houses.
They have to maintain a temperature between 20 and 25 Celsius to ensure their animals including monkeys, birds and reptiles survive.
Executive Director Karl Hansen said:
"Energy costs have skyrocketed to the point where we are now struggling to cover our winter electricity and heating costs. No support is available from government sources so we need the public's help.
"We have no choice our plants are a little more versatile but our animals simply have to survive within a range of 20-25C we have no choice we cannot turn off the electricity."
"The worst case scenario would be having to shut the living rain forest and given that we've survived over thirty years that would be a terrible shame so we're going to do everything to avoid that scenario."
The Living Rainforest Centre is run by the Trust for Sustainable Living.
It welcomes around 100,000 visitors each year, including 25,000 children on school trips.
Visitors can experience the sights, sounds and smells of a lush tropical rainforest environment – and explore how plants, animals, human needs, economies and cultures are all linked.
You can find out how to donate and support the living rainforest here