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Charity Profile
Brent Lodge Wildlife hospital Year round care for wild animals & birds Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital based in Sidlesham near Chichester, provides life-saving care and rehabilitation facilities to over 3,500 sick, injured and orphaned UK wildlife patients a year, from across West Sussex and East Hampshire. The welfare of the patients is the primary concern and the aim is to get them fit and healthy to be responsibly released back into the wild where they belong. After starting as a small bird hospital in 1971 they now have the on-site facilities and knowledge to expertly care for and rehabilitate over 120 different wildlife species. Wildlife patients are brought in for a variety of reasons which include cat, dog or predator injuries and the effects of disease, infections and naturally caused casualties. But sadly most are admitted due to the actions of mankind. Victims of road traffic collisions, pollution, habitat or environmental damage, gardening injuries, deliberate cruelty and orphaned wildlife. They have no rescue service, so patients are admitted directly from the public, the RSPCA, or pre-assessed patients from local vets that require ongoing care and rehabilitation. Being an all year round busy wildlife hospital means each season brings its own challenges to wildlife. During the festive season it is mainly hedgehog casualties. Many juvenile hedgehogs born later in the summer are too small to survive the winter hibernation and require overwinter care at the hospital. By the end of the winter season, over 250 sick, injured or juvenile hedgehogs are cared for.
Staff and volunteers are under pressure to clean out each pen, provide fresh bedding, feed and weigh all the hedgehogs each day – particularly at Christmas when many of the regular helpers have friends and family commitments. Through educational outreach work visiting schools, talks to community groups and raising awareness online, Brent Lodge aim to educate the wider public about the dangers faced by wildlife. Leaving plenty of
fresh food and water out for birds and other wildlife, supplementing them with energy enriched foods – seeds, peanuts, fatballs, mealworms and fruit can really help sustain hungry wildlife especially if the weather is extremely unforgiving and food is scarce. Brent Lodge receive no government funding, so depend on the generosity of voluntary donors and their charity shops to generate vital income to keep running. It costs over £20 an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to fund staff training, food, medication, veterinary care and patient welfare. To make a £5 donation instantly by phone text message, simply text BLWH 5 to 70085. You will also be charged your network rate. If you would like to find ways to help wildlife in need or find out more about Brent Lodge, please visit their website www.brentlodge.org or call 01243 641672. Cow Lane, Sidlesham, PO20 7LN.
