VISITORS to a Worcester garden centre will soon be able to take a walk on the wild side and see some of the world's more curious critters.

Andy Calvert, who runs Wildside Exotics with co-directors Lyn and Drew Blake, is working to open a petting zoo with a difference just behind the Wyevale Garden Centre on Droitwich Road.

But this unusual collection of critters will boast exotics such as meerkats, raccoons, genets, skunks, coatimundi, sugar gliders, Gambian rats and more.

"We are a bit spoilt for choice when it comes to places to see animals in this county, with the West Midland Safari Park, All Things Wild in Evesham and other centres in the Cotswolds, but there isn't anything in Worcester," Mr Calvert, who lives in the Merriman's Hill area of the city, said.

"Our plan is to open this centre to the public, with a very small entry charge, to encourage people to visit and learn about our animals as well as global animal welfare and conservation. We are strictly a non-profit organisation and all the proceeds from the new facility will be carried forward to benefit our animals and the future animals who come to live at our site."

Although Mr Calvert is currently working to obtain all of the permissions needed to open and run the petting zoo — which will be called the Wildside Centre — he hopes the centre will be ready for May bank holiday.

"It will be fantastic when it's all set up. It won't be like some zoos, where you can only look at the animals from afar. With us you will be able to play with the animals and hold them, and they will be out of their pens very often being taken for walks. They are all very friendly and used to human interaction," he said.

"We also have some more 'vulnerable' animals with us, such as the armadillo. They are a delicacy in some countries, so people hunt them to eat, which means their numbers are declining. Giant land snails and hissing cockroaches will also feature."

Garden centre manager, Leo Maxwell-Harrison, said he is looking forward to the opening of the zoo.

"It will be very exciting, but it will also be an affordable day out, at around £2 per person to enter. It's also a great education for the kids."

To find out more, or if you want to sponsor the zoo, email info@wilsidecentre.co.uk.