THE Wildheart Animal Sanctuary has an exciting new project on the horizon ­— a world-class centre for primate rescue and conservation.

It will be the first design of its kind in Europe, and the only bamboo home for any animal in Britain today.

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But The Wildheart Trust needs everyone's help, from individuals to businesses, to help support its pioneering project.

A Crowdfunder has been launched, with a target of £25,000, to cover some of the costs of the build.

Marrying contemporary design and traditional materials with cutting edge technologies in construction, the trust will be creating a leading centre for primate rescue and conservation.

The build will give its animals uninterrupted access to a high rainforest canopy that mirrors their natural habitat, and visitors will be able to take a trail that recreates the flora, fauna and wildlife communities of many of the countries its primates originate from.

"Our lemur facility, which was state-of-the-art 20 years ago, is crumbling," said Lawrence Bates, chief operating officer.

"At the moment, it's legal for you to go to a pet shop, buy a monkey, keep it in a bird cage and feed it mash potato and chocolate all day.

"It's absolutely crazy. But the government has acknowledged this issue, and it's bringing in a bill next year ­— the kept animal bill ­— which will address this.

"That means, over the next five years or so, you're going to have a lot of primates that need rehoming.

"Expecting an influx, we're building an area which we're going at great lengths to future proof.

"We're also doing the build as sustainable as possible, so the house is going to made with straw, held together by pressure and a thin layer of glue.

"We're going to have a living roof on there, and attached to that, were going to have huge domes for the animals, which means they can live in a rainforest canopy like they should, in mixed-species groups.

"The cool thing, which hasn't been done before, is we're going to make it out of bamboo.

"We're building Europe's first, walk through bamboo primate facility.

"But it is expensive to be brave and be sustainable, and that's why we're fundraising."

The trust is looking for investors to partner with and sponsor elements of the world-leading development.

The total cost of the build is £275,000, broken down into various elements suited to different budgets.

For more information, and to get involved, visit www.wildheartanimalsanctuary.org