Help them get started
Your support makes a difference
Help us create The Jungle Experience, a rainforest-inspired wildlife education and conservation centre for the whole community.
From The Jungle Hut to The Jungle Experience
Nearly nine years ago, we opened The Jungle Hut with one simple mission: to help people see reptiles and wildlife in a completely different way.
What started as a small family-run experience has grown into something truly special.
Every week we welcome families, schools, home education groups and wildlife enthusiasts, introducing thousands of people to incredible animals while breaking down fears, inspiring curiosity and creating unforgettable memories.
Over the years, we've watched nervous children become confident wildlife ambassadors, inspired young people to consider careers working with animals, and created a place where learning happens through real experiences and genuine connections with nature.
At the heart of everything we do has always been a passion for education, exceptional animal welfare and conservation.
Today, The Jungle Hut is operated by Jungle Lifeline CIC – a Community Interest Company and social enterprise established to operate for community benefit.
Money generated through our work is reinvested into our animals, education, conservation and the development of our work within the community.
And now, after nearly nine years, we've been given an opportunity that could change everything.
A Dream We Never Expected
Recently, we were offered the chance to expand The Jungle Hut into something we've dreamed about creating for years:
The Jungle Experience
A much larger wildlife conservation and education centre right here in Earlswood, Solihull.
When I first stood looking at the buildings, I could already picture what they could become.
Larger, naturalistic habitats for our animals.
Immersive rainforest environments.
Children walking through exhibits and becoming part of the experience rather than simply looking at animals.
Dedicated spaces for private experiences, schools, home education, young people and community groups.
And most importantly, a place where wildlife education and conservation can come alive and inspire the next generation.
It's the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Opportunity Is Already Here
This isn't simply an idea for something we'd like to create one day if we can raise enough money.
The opportunity is already here.
We have been offered larger premises on the same Earlswood site where The Jungle Hut already operates, with plans for us to take on the new premises in 2027.
Our landlord supports our vision for The Jungle Experience.
We already have the location.
We already have the animals.
We already have nearly nine years of experience behind us.
We already have families, schools, home educators and young people engaging with what we do.
What we now need is the funding and materials to turn those empty buildings into The Jungle Experience.
The Reality
As exciting as this opportunity is, it also comes with a significant cost.
Transforming the buildings into a safe, professional wildlife conservation and education centre means constructing large animal habitats, enclosing areas of the existing barn, installing specialist reptile lighting and electrical infrastructure, creating dedicated education spaces and securing the surrounding area.
As a small Community Interest Company, we simply don't have the financial resources of a large commercial visitor attraction.
That's why we're asking our community, local businesses and supporters to help us take this next step.
But there is another side to this story that we feel it's important to be open about.
This Isn't Simply About Getting Bigger
The Jungle Hut cannot continue indefinitely in its current form.
We've reached the point where the limitations of our existing premises make it increasingly difficult for us to develop our animal welfare, educational and conservation work in the way we need to.
The Jungle Experience isn't therefore simply about expanding because we'd like something bigger.
It's about creating a sustainable future for everything we've spent nearly nine years building.
We will contribute as much as we possibly can ourselves and undertake a significant amount of the construction with the help of friends, family and supporters.
But the reality is that if we cannot secure a substantial proportion of the funding and materials required, we will struggle to get this project off the ground.
And if we're unable to make this next step possible, we may ultimately have to face the incredibly difficult reality that The Jungle Hut, as people know and love it today, may not be able to continue.
We don't say that to put pressure on anyone to donate.
We say it because we want to be completely transparent about just how important this opportunity is.
This Crowdfunder isn't only about building something new.
It's about protecting nearly nine years of work and giving The Jungle Hut the opportunity to become The Jungle Experience.
Why £25,000?
We've started breaking down the major construction requirements needed to get the project off the ground.
At this stage we haven't been able to undertake every detailed measurement or obtain final quotations, so our figures are based on the approximate size of the buildings, proposed layouts and the type of construction and specialist equipment we know will be required.
Our current estimate suggests that the core construction and specialist fit-out alone is likely to cost £30,000+.
Our initial estimated requirements include approximately:
£10,000 – Large Reptile Enclosures
Construction materials for larger, naturalistic animal habitats including structural materials, insulation, waterproofing, glass/acrylic and habitat construction.
£4,000 – Specialist Reptile Lighting & Equipment
UVB, daylight and specialist lighting systems and associated equipment required for our larger reptile habitats.
£5,000 – Open Barn Conversion
Materials required to enclose and convert the currently open sections of the barn into a secure, usable, year-round environment.
£3,000 – Private Experience & Education Room
Construction of internal walls and a dedicated space for private experiences and educational activities.
£2,000 – Secure Perimeter Fencing
Secure fencing and access around the external Jungle Experience area.
£3,000 – Electrical Infrastructure
Additional electrical infrastructure required to safely supply our new animal habitats and specialist equipment.
There will also be additional construction materials and unforeseen requirements as the project progresses.
We're Not Asking You to Fund Everything
Our Crowdfunder target is £25,000, despite our current core build estimate exceeding £30,000.
That's because we're determined to make every pound raised work as hard as possible.
Darren intends to undertake a significant amount of the construction himself, supported by friends and family wherever possible.
Jungle Lifeline CIC will fund a number of other elements of the project ourselves, including areas such as educational interpretation, signage, decoration and finishing.
We'll also be approaching local businesses and suppliers for donated or discounted materials, equipment, expertise and practical assistance.
So we're not simply asking people to hand us £25,000 and expecting someone else to build it.
We're prepared to roll up our sleeves and build as much of it ourselves as we possibly can.
What we need help with are the materials and specialist equipment that we simply cannot provide through our own labour.
More Than Just a Visitor Attraction
The Jungle Experience isn't about becoming bigger for the sake of it.
It's about becoming better.
We want to create a place where:
We believe that people protect what they understand, and everything we create will be designed around helping people build that connection with the natural world.
Where Will Your Donation Go?
Every donation, no matter how big or small, becomes another piece of The Jungle Experience.
A piece of timber could become part of a new reptile habitat.
Specialist lighting could provide the correct environment for an animal in our care.
Building materials could help turn an open agricultural barn into an immersive wildlife experience.
Fencing could help create a secure outdoor conservation and visitor area.
Electrical equipment could power the specialist environments our animals depend upon.
Your donation won't simply support an idea.
It will help physically build The Jungle Experience.
And if you're a business that could help with materials, equipment, professional expertise or practical support rather than a financial donation, we'd also love to hear from you.
You Are Our Lifeline
For a large commercial organisation, a project like this may be supported by substantial investment.
For a small community organisation like ours, it's very different.
People like you are our investment.
Every donation.
Every share.
Every business that offers materials.
Every introduction.
Every message of encouragement.
And every person who believes in what we're trying to achieve moves us another step closer.
Quite simply...
You Are Our Lifeline.
Together, we're not just building new animal habitats.
We're creating a place that can inspire thousands of children, support conservation, educate future generations and provide a sustainable future for the work we've spent nearly nine years building.
Join the Journey
This isn't just a crowdfunding campaign.
It's the beginning of the next chapter.
We know £25,000 is a huge amount of money for a small organisation to raise.
But we've spent nearly nine years showing what can be achieved with passion, determination and the support of an incredible community.
Now we're asking that community to help us take the biggest step we've ever taken.
Whether you donate £5, £10, £30, £100 or more, every contribution takes us closer.
And if you're unable to donate, simply sharing our campaign with your friends, family, employer or local business could introduce us to the person who can provide the material, expertise or support we need.
From the bottom of my heart...
Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for believing in The Jungle Hut.
And thank you for helping us build The Jungle Experience.
Important Information for Reward Supporters
If you choose one of our reward tiers, please email us after making your donation so we can record your details and make sure you receive your reward.
Unfortunately, Crowdfunder does not always provide us with enough contact information to get in touch with every supporter directly.
Please include:
Email: [email protected]
This also allows us to keep you updated on the progress of The Jungle Experience and contact you with information about your reward.
Thank you for becoming part of our journey.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 27th October 2026 at 5:00am