The Living Rainforest, in Hampstead Norreys, tops £12k in Energy Crisis Appeal

The Living Rainforest has launched a fundraising appeal to help it tackle rising energy costs.

The ecological and educational centre, in Hampstead Norreys, is home to more than 850 types of tropical plants and animals, including rare and endangered species.

It costs in excess of £100,000 per year to heat and light the glass houses and visitor centre, but prices are set to increase.

In response to this daunting prospect, the centre started a Energy Crisis Appeal.

Executive director, Karl Hansen, who took over the site in 2000, said: "On Friday morning, we'd raised over £12,000.

"Half that is being very kindly match funded by The Greenham Trust, which means we still need to raise another £6,000 to reach our £30,000 target.

"People can go to the Living Rainforest website where there is a donation link.

"Another way to support us is to come along. If you can get an annual ticket, you can visit as many times as you like.

"Hopefully guests will enjoy themselves, but they'll also be helping us to cover our ridiculously rising energy costs."

Around 100,000 guests frequent the conservation site every year, including 25,000 schoolchildren.

But only a few can claim to have ever seen the elusive sloth.