A COUPLE from Wheatley have been given a licence to start their own zoo, the first of its kind in South Oxfordshire.

Clive and Jayne Jones already run Wheatley Birds of Prey, based at Mill View Plant Centre in Ladder Hill.

Now the centre is nearly three years old, they will expand their menagerie by opening a petting zoo.

Mr Jones, 58, said: “We have been asked by several people to start one up. We’ll just have small animals for small children at first. We breed rabbits as pets anyway so we’ll have rabbits and guinea pigs, a goat and maybe a miniature pony.

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“There isn’t really anywhere nearby that does it. People are keen for somewhere they can take kids that’s safe and well-run and hands-on.

“We’ve had offers of alpacas already, but we need to do our research first.

“We’ll start it in January and hopefully have it up by April.

“We’re doing it a step at a time, but it will get bigger than that.”

The licence, issued by South Oxfordshire District Council this month, is the first to be given by the authority.

It took 18 months to obtain and required a Government inspection and promises to enhance education and conservation of animals.

Mr Jones, a father of six, added: “You have to do conservation and education work as well so the licence will help us do that.

“We do lots of education stuff anyway with schools and the Scouts. It’s good for everyone.”

The couple already rent land from Mill View Plant Centre for the birds of prey and said the garden centre supported their plans.

Mr Jones said: “We rent the fields at the back of the centre and we’ve built some sheds and an office.

“The garden centre is being rebuilt to include a cafe and we wanted to put in a small petting zoo at the back.

“They are offering us massive help with it.

“They want to do it and want to expand it for people to come in and spend some time with the animals and the plants.”

South Oxfordshire District Council and the Mill View Plant Centre did not respond to requests for comment.

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