DUDLEY Zoo hopes to create more feeding zones for the hundreds of native small wild birds that visit the site.

The plan is to give the chaffinches, robins, blue tits, long tail tits and nuthatches a helping hand to keep warm this winter.

Chris Leeson, the zoo's conservation officer, said: “Birds need to be nice and plump for the cold months to come, so we’ve built wooden bird tables around the site where we can feed them up with fat balls, bars and wild bird seed.”

The zoo is appealing for donations of old or unwanted hanging bird feeders or bird stations, which will be put to good use around the site.

Donations can be handed in at the Safari Shop.

Plastic bird feeders have also been added to the zoo's online Amazon Wishlist, which allows supporters to purchase items that have been specifically chosen by keepers to benefit the animals.

Purchases are then delivered directly to the zoo.

To view the list, click here.