East Devon's only wildlife hospital launches fundraiser to survive lockdown effect

East Devon's only wildlife 'hospital' has launched a fundraising appeal, in order to manage increasing numbers of animals requiring care, which appears to be linked to the effects of lockdown on people's connection to nature.

Wild Woodbury's current care and rehabilitation unit, which started work in 2016, has seen the numbers of wild animals needing to be nursed back to health, soar fivefold since March.

The husband and wife team were looking after one or two creatures a week at the beginning of the year, and they're now caring for around 10 animals and birds at any one time.

Tony Bennett, who runs the centre with his wife, Claire, said: "It's great that more people are getting out and about in nature and are becoming more aware - but the amount of animals needing our help in East Devon means we're pretty run off our feet."

"We need extra equipment, such as a microscope, feeding bowls, incubators, and more and better enclosures for the animals."

Tony says hedgehogs are brought in most often, which are now sadly on the red list as an endangered species. Many are orphaned by desperate parents that can't get enough food and water. Particularly water.

They are often dehydrated and covered with parasites, so they need treating, watering, feeding up and chance to rest before we release them back into the wild again, preferably at the place they were found, as they may have family nearby.

Hedgehog numbers have plummeted by half in just 20 years – and by a whopping 97 per cent since the 1950s. Experts say that habitat loss, a significant reduction in the number of insects (exacerbated by herbicides and pesticides), and roadkills are to blame.

Tony's top tip for helping all wildlife, especially in the summer, is to put out fresh water every day at ground level.

He said: "We can also do our bit by making sure the creatures are not trapped in our gardens. Holes in fences are very important but hedges are better as they allow free movement."

Tony urges people not to use herbicides and pesticides as they disrupt the foodchain and make it harder for the little creatures to survive.

He added: "Recently, we have been looking after a tiny mouse, which we fed for five days every two hours day and night, which was pretty exhausting. Sadly it died in the end. It was incredibly sweet and we were so sad we were not able to see it released.

"We have had nestlings and fledglings too. We currently have a little house martin we're nursing back to health."

Many vets will treat, at least for a short time, sick wildlife, but Wild Woodbury is the only dedicated wild animal care unit in East Devon and would like to be able to extend its facilities to be able to offer hospital care supported by local vets and an increasing number of volunteers who are invaluable in wildlife rehabilitation.

There are about five similar centres across Devon, with a network of volunteers that provide rehabilitation, before the animal is released back into the wild.

The latest State of Nature report emphasises that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. We are at risk of losing many species of wildlife due to habitat loss, climate change and an increase in pesticide use.

A quarter of UK mammals and nearly half of the birds assessed are at risk of extinction, according to the report, which was produced by a coalition of more than 70 wildlife organisations and government conservation agencies.

When plants, insects and fungi are added, one in seven of the 8,400 UK species assessed are at risk of being completely lost, with 133 already gone since 1500.

The report says the main causes of the losses are the intensification of farming, pollution from fertiliser, manure and plastic, the destruction of habitats for houses, the climate crisis and invasive alien species.

The main messages to people are:

1. Yes there is somewhere in East Devon to call on if you find an injured or sick wild animal

1. Please help us help more local wildlife by donating even a small amount to our fundraising campaign

1. Please support wildlife near you by leaving out ground level water, leaving gaps in your fences, abandoning chemicals and providing more habitat for wildlife

The link to the fundraising appeal for Wild Woodbury is here.

More about Tony and Claire Bennett's work to help unwell and injured wild animals is here.