Wildlives - Autumn 2023

Wildlives Autumn 2023

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Glastonbury Festival’s littlest headliners See page 20

Helping British Wildlife Free with Adoptions and to Friends

Welcome to the Secret World Wildlife It is hard to believe it is almost the end of another year.

The seasons seem to pass so quickly and seem to be more unseasonal. (Temperature in the mid 20’s in the second week of October! I have a very confused pet tortoise!)

It has been another busy Spring and Summer at Secret World with over 3,400 admissions so far this year.

Unfortunately, Avian Flu remains with us and the continuing impact of this is likely to be around for some time.

In the summer we welcomed the appointment of Jackie Palmer as Executive Director. Jackie was previously our Operations Manager

Full PPE still needed when handling birds 2

Secret World – helping British wildlife

and brings a great deal of charity management experience to the role.

Jackie has quickly started to ensure that Secret World continues to develop in line with our strategic plans and legislative requirements.

In respect of long-term plans, the Trustees and Senior Managers have continued to work with the threeyear plan and develop the longer five- and ten-year strategic plans. We continue to look at the issue of site layout and infrastructure as well as repairs and maintenance of existing buildings. We also continue to look at supporting and developing our wildlife care provision and our educational and fundraising work.

There are a number of exciting plans for 2024 which include replacing the three fun weekend events. The ‘Secret World Wild Weekend’ will run over the late May bank holiday weekend and, whilst still in the planning phase, it will allow the option to camp overnight and will include talks, nature trails, bat walks as well as entertainment for children and adults. There is also a ‘Walk on the Wild side’ planned for March 30th

Rescue Autumn Newsletter

Bramble needs a nap after all this exciting news!

which will be an excellent, fun and educational day out for all the family.

Four charity shops are now open with the most recent opening in Bridgwater in September. The shops generate important revenue to support the charities work and are vital moving forward as we cannot simply rely on other forms of income such as legacies.

In September I took over as Chair of the Board of Trustees after Chris Stenlake decided to stand down. He led the Charity through some difficult times and helped it to reach the more stable and focussed position it is now in. We are all grateful to Chris for his incredible hard work and commitment and I am very pleased that he will continue as Treasurer and a Trustee.

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BVA Officers 2023-24 (from L-R) Elizabeth Mullineaux, Anna Judson, Malcolm Morley

Hilary Bloor has joined us as a coopted trustee and sadly Marie Negus resigned for family reasons. The board is currently, myself with Wendy Goodwin as vice chair alongside Dr Dominic Phillips, Dr Chris Pawson, Chris Stenlake and Hilary Bloor.

Before I sign off, I must congratulate our Scientific advisor Dr Liz Mullineaux on being elected as the new British Veterinary Association’s Junior Vice President. An incredible honour and many congratulations to Liz.

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Secret World – helping British wildlife

I cannot underestimate the importance of the commitment, dedication and enthusiasm of all the staff and volunteers.

A big thank you to them and all those that continue to support Secret World Wildlife Rescue.

Richard Hockey, Chair of the Trustees

This poor hedgehog came to us with an injured eye.

We've helped over 600 hedgehogs this year!

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Founder’s Report Although a lot of my time is spent on the computer, or in talks and meetings, it’s always nice to do something actually with wildlife – especially rescues.

Calls at night have never bothered me and if it’s just a case of giving someone some advice, once the call is over I go back to sleep in seconds.

When I was woken at 3 am early one morning I wasn’t sure if I was hearing the details right. It was a call about a road casualty in Churchill.

It's a privilege to see animals this close up but sad that they need help 6

Secret World – helping British wildlife

Mr Woo, the albino wallaby who was a favourite when we were open to the public

An ambulance crew were calling to report that they had moved an animal off the road but couldn’t stay with it. Given a precise location and being told it was the size of a cat, I got dressed quickly and went out.

Within half an hour I was at the location and was very surprised to see that the description of the casualty was absolutely correct, although maybe I didn’t agree with the size comparison. It was a wallaby!

It was the first wallaby that I had been called out to, although we have been told about them being seen in the area. Sadly, injuries to its spine were confirmed when the animal

was taken to the night service at Quantock Veterinary Hospital in Bridgwater. I don’t think the veterinary nurse that I spoke to believed that I would be bringing in a wallaby. We were very upset that we were unable to save her, and she was quietly euthanised. The vets were amazing and dealt with the situation very professionally – so good to know they were there to help.

There have been several sightings of wallabies locally, but this is the first time that one has been in an accident as far as I’m aware. It brought back memories of Mr Woo, who many people will remember, and the Woo family.

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Baby bats are almost impossibly small

We seem to get more and more bats in each year and, with the reduction in insects and increasing light pollution, it is a concern. Pipistrelles actively use lights as a means of attracting the insects, but many other species can echo-locate and hunt better in the dark.

I find bats fascinating. We have several staff who are real bat people and go to great lengths to look after 8

Secret World – helping British wildlife

them, even caring for baby bats that can be the size of a thumb nail!

Katie, one of our Wildlife Care Supervisors, has designed a special net on a pole, with soft material to hold a baby bat. Taking it back to where the baby bat was found, she has patiently waited for hours in the dark and been rewarded, on occasions, when mum has come back and collected the baby. It’s so much better for the baby to have a mother to teach it how to survive.

Only the other month, I went to rescue a bat late one night from a chimney; this was a pipistrelle - the smallest of all the bats.

Having removed the grille behind a false fireplace, the owner had quickly put it back on when he saw the bat, as he was terrified. I was given the screwdriver to take the grille down while he sheltered behind the kitchen door.

The rescue was a success and a few days later it was time for the bat to go home. It was really chattering as I got out of the car, and it knew it was home. In the back garden I held it in my hand; it took off immediately and did a couple of circuits before flying away. The owner watched - from the safety of the conservatory. We all have our fears!

Katie's ingenious natal return aid

Fully grown pipistrelle bats weigh no more than a pound coin Wildlives | Autumn 2023

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ADMISSIONS

Top: Our second badger cub of 2023 Above: A toad in a hole Right: One of our rarer admissions, a stock dove

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Young roe deer, known as kids.

Top: Rabbit kit Above: A rare blonde hedgehog Above right: Young roe deer, known as kids Right: Fox cub Below: Nestling magpie

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Charity shops update What a Summer: flaming June, a washed-out July and a damp and overcast August has meant a challenging time for us in retail. As our store teams coped with this unpredictable weather, making sure we had the right stock available has been a challenge.

We have welcomed a new manager into our Langport shop, Tineke, who has brought in some fresh thinking, made some exciting changes, and has become part of the great team of staff and volunteers we are fortunate enough to have working in Langport. We have been incredibly lucky and owe a big thank you to both Pip and Rose who have worked tirelessly managing the shop in the absence of a manager. Thank you both.

Jane in Glastonbury continues to do an amazing job running our little ‘secret’ shop hidden away at the top of the High Street. We know it’s tucked away but it’s a real little treasure trove and not your typical charity shop; if you have not been I would urge you to visit, it’s worth the walk to the top of town! Jane and Elly between them cover the 6 days’ trading but are desperate for more help. Wendy, our long-term volunteer whose help has been invaluable, is now joined by two more lovely ladies, Sharon and Sharon.

If you would like to help Jane and the team, please pop in and have a chat.

Steve, Cheryl, Sue and the team of volunteers continue to do a fantastic job serving the people of Burnham-on-Sea. The shop continues to do well and, with the team’s hard work, continues to grow. But with popularity comes different challenges, and getting the shop filled and ready to trade is one of those challenges the team faces every day. With donated items arriving daily, we need a veritable army to keep the place going. Burnham are always looking for more help and Steve will be delighted to talk to anyone interested in volunteering.

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I am delighted to report we have opened our fourth shop, located at 13 Fore Street in Bridgwater. We began trading at the end of the Summer and have welcomed both Dee and Jo to the retail team; between them they will manage what will be our largest shop to date. We have been busy fitting out the shop and are delighted with the outcome. Please pop in and say hello, you will find some amazing items. If you have some spare time and would like to volunteer, please chat to Jo or Dee who will be grateful for your support.

With more shops come more donations and earlier in the year we opened our retail hub at Unit J5 Oaktree Business Park in Highbridge. We now have a base and somewhere to sort the many donated items that you so generously give us. Located off the Bristol Road we are usually open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday when we will be delighted to accept your donated items. Please call us first though, on 01278 574903, to make sure someone will be there.

As Autumn is well and truly upon us, thoughts now turn to Christmas and the return of our ever-popular Little Christmas Gift Guide. We have been busy finding new items, which we hope you will love as much as we do. We have a new Christmas card design for 2023, designed by Terri Peay, one of our amazing artisan makers; it is exclusive to us and will again help raise money for the invaluable work the Wildlife Care Team do throughout the year. Please take a peek in the catalogue or at our online shop at shop.secretworld.org Once again, can I just say a massive thank you to you for your support, your generous donations and continued patronage of our shops. Thank you.

Mike Head of Retail Wildlives | Autumn 2023

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The Bluebell Barn A venue for lovers of wildlife Located on the remote and rural grounds of Secret World Wildlife Rescue, the Bluebell Barn offers a truly unique and meaning venue for any special event.

Weddings

Corporate events

A venue for wildlife lovers, events held at the Bluebell Barn leave a lasting and positive impact as all funds go towards continuing the work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing over 5,000 animals per year through the Secret World Wildlife Rescue charity. The rustic interior of this 17th century renovation is completed by exposed beams and a wood burning furnace. Opening up the large double doors provides access to the font lawn, with a private wildlife garden and large marquee located on the other side. Choosing the Bluebell Barn gives couples a unique freedom in customising their event to honestly reflect who they are, with support from the venue coordinator at every step.

Whether it be a small and intimate occasion or full ceremony and reception, the Bluebell Barn is sure to provide a most memorable setting.

Fully equipped with Wi-Fi and visual and audio equipment, the Bluebell Barn can also be hired for corporate events such as meetings and team building.

Our spacious function room can accommodate various layouts and, to complete the day, we can provide tea, coffee, and a buffet lunch as part of the package.

Your event will make a real difference The Bluebell Barn is a truly special venue. Holding any event at Secret World will help us help wildlife, leaving a lasting and positive legacy. All profit from your event will go towards continuing our work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured and orphaned British wildlife.

To find out more, please email us at events@secretworld.org or give us a call on 01278 768703.

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Christmas Gift Guide Our little Christmas Gift Guide is back brimming with gift ideas any wildlife lover will be happy to unwrap this Christmas morning.

New for Christmas 2023 Designed exclusively for Secret World by one of our Artisan makers, Terri Peay.

Take a look at our full exclusive range.

“Oh Come! Let Us Adore Them” Christmas Cards Pack of 10 cards and envelopes.

W 16cm x L16cm Exclusive to Secret World

“Oh Come! Let Us Adore Them” Hanging Decoration A beautifully finished ceramic decoration.

Diameter 7cm x Depth 0.5cm

£6.00 “Oh Come! Let Us Adore Them” Christmas Mug

Exclusive to Secret World

£6.95

A beautifully finished ceramic mug; a festive mug for your festive cuppa! Not suitable for the dishwasher.

Diameter 8cm x H 9.5cm Exclusive to Secret World

£7.95 “Oh Come! Let Us Adore Them” Christmas Coaster A beautifully finished coaster complete with a smooth, nonscratch cork board backing.

Coasters are heatproof & waterproof. Wipe clean only.

L 10cm x W 10cm Exclusive to Secret World

“Oh Come! Let Us Adore Them” Christmas Tea Towel 100% Cotton, Machine washable at 30 degrees. L 65cm x W 46cm Exclusive to Secret World

£12.95

£8.00

Please take a look at our online shop: shop.secretworld.org where you will find more beautiful gifts designed by Terri Peay.

Christmas Gifts

FOR BIRD LOVERS AND BUDDING ORNITHOLOGISTS

Bird boxes to bird song, we have a wide selection of gifts that any bird lover will be pleased to receive this Christmas Bird Song CD Close your eyes and let this relaxing CD transport you to the ancient woodlands and listen to the sounds of the woodland birds.

This magical CD, recorded in Burnham Beeches, comes complete with a code for a free MP3 Download to allow you to enjoy wherever you are.

£10.00 Secret World Bird Box - Teal or Green Roof These bird boxes are made from recycled timber.

H 27 cm x W 16 cm x D 16 cm (All dimensions are approximate and do not include the perch)

Fairy Bird House - Large*

£25.00 Amazing Birds of the British Isles Fact Cards

This magical bird house will look fabulous in any garden.

H 52cm x W 32cm x D 24cm (All dimensions are approximate)

£85.00

An information pack that every bird lover, young or old, need in their lives.

£10.00 Colouring Book A5 with 36 pages includes all 35 birds featured in the fact cards.

£5.00

Eileen the Owl Along with Gary the Hedgehog and Gordon theSnail, meet our fun woodland family.

H 9cm x D 5 cm x W 6 cm (All dimensions are approximate)

£8.00

Fairy Bird House - Small* Beautifully handcrafted this bird house is a house any bird would be proud to call home!

H 33cm x W 25cm x D 20cm

£50.00

FOR BUG CATCHERS AND ENTOMOLOGISTS Bug houses to colouring books, we have a wide selection of gifts that any insect lover will be pleased to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Amazing British Bugs ID Cards Fairy Bug House - Large* This handmade bug house will look fab in any garden.

H 50cm x W 30cm x D 22cm (All dimensions are approximate)

Each Card is double sided, with a bug featured on each side. There is an illustration of the bug along with their common name, scientific name, when to see them in the year and a fun fact.

£10.00

Amazing British Bugs Colouring Book An A5 colouring book with 36 pages, featuring 70 amazing bugs to colour in.

£5.00

£85.00 Amazing British Bugs Activity Book Combines a bit from the fact cards with a bit from the colouring books to create this fun fact and activity book.

£7.00 Gordon the Snail One of our fun woodland family, Gordon the Snail is handcrafted by our artisan maker Jody, along with his playmates Gary the Hedgehog and Eileen the Owl. H 8cm x L 12 cm x W 5 cm (All dimensions are approximate)

Fairy Bug House - Small*

£8.00

£50.00

This beautiful, handmade quirky bug house will make a great home for the bugs in your garden.

H 29cm x W 21cm x D 16cm (All dimensions are approximate)

*The houses are handmade to order and are collection only from Secret World Retail Centre Highbridge or our stores in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Glastonbury or Langport. Bird and Bug Houses should be available to buy in our Bridgwater, Glastonbury and Langport stores.

Christmas Gifts STOCKING FILLERS

For wildlife lovers, what better to find in their stocking this Christmas?

Gary the Hedgehog Meet the third of our fun woodland family, Gary the Hedgehog; he is handcrafted by our artisan maker Jody, why not collect all three?

H 5cm x L 8 cm x W 5 cm (All dimensions are approximate)

Badger Fridge Magnets Available in square, round or heart shaped all featuring our exclusive design.

£2.50 each

£7.00 Amazing Animals of the British Isles Fact Cards

Amazing Animals of the British Isles Colouring Book

Featuring 35 animals from across the British isles, each card has an illustration, their common name, scientific name, key info and facts. The colour of the card shows which regions they live in.

An A5 colouring book with 36 pages includes all 35 animals featured in the fact cards.

£5.00

£10.00

ADOPTION PACKS A great gift for wildlife lovers of any age!

These adoption packs make a great gift; each pack includes a soft toy, a newsletter, a species photo and a species fact sheet. Two further newsletters will be sent out to the recipient in Spring and Autumn 2024.

£36.00

Each adoption pack sold is a gift for wildlife too!

Happy Christmas! from us all at Secret World. Thank you for your support

A gift in your Will could give the gift of freedom Create a lasting legacy and help protect wildlife for future generations.

After you’ve taken care of your loved ones, a gift in your will for Secret World Wildlife Rescue is the perfect way to help wildlife and make sure it’s looked after for years to come. A gift in your will could give the gift of freedom to a sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal and help it get back to the wild.

Book your free consultation today, either by phone or online.

See www.secretworld.org/legacy or call us to get started.

We’ve teamed up with Bequeathed to offer free, professionally drafted wills to our supporters.

“I have been a patron of Secret World Wildlife Rescue for many years and have enjoyed visiting and seeing how much the charity has progressed. It has retained its ethics of best care and every single animal is important to them. Please consider leaving a legacy gift to Secret World, I know it will make such a difference to the animals in their care.”

Valerie Singleton OBE, TV presenter and SWWR patron

If you would like more information about how leaving a gift in your will could help wildlife, please contact us on 01278 783250 or email fundraising@secretworld.org Wildlives | Autumn 2023

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Axl and Slash During this year’s Glastonbury Festival we received a pair of young little owls that had been found in a very unusual place.

The first little owl chick was found under the Stage Left steps of the Pyramid Stage during Guns N’ Roses’ headline set on Saturday night.

The finder named it ‘Axl’ (after the band’s vocalist Axl Rose) and initially took it to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife near Taunton.

It was transferred to SWWR shortly afterwards.

The following day, the charity received a call about another bird found in the same place, thought to be Axl’s sibling. Axl and Slash (named after Guns N’ Roses’ guitarist) were soon reunited and clearly pleased to see each other.

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When Guns N’ Roses were playing “Welcome to the Jungle”, we’re sure they didn’t realise how close they actually were to wildlife! This is possibly the most unusual disturbance case we’ve heard about this year, but it just goes to show the importance of checking your surroundings for wildlife before any activity.

The Pyramid Stage frame is left in place all year when Worthy Farm goes back to being a dairy farm.

Clearly a pair of little owls thought it would be a great place to make a nest. They are a cavity-nesting species, favouring holes in old trees, but they have been recorded nesting in rabbit holes and take well to man-made nest boxes.

Whether you’re renovating your garden, or setting up for the world’s biggest musical festival, our advice is

always the same: if you’ve got materials or structures that have been in place for a while, please check them carefully before moving anything, as you may end up disturbing a nest. It looks like the parents sadly abandoned their nest once festival preparation began, so it’s difficult to say how long the chicks were left alone. We’re so grateful to the people who found and helped them; they must have been terrified after enduring almost two full days of loud music.

After spending a few weeks at our centre with another little owl, all three were moved on to an outdoor enclosure at a release site.

They settled in well and after a couple of weeks being support-fed by the landowner, a hatch was opened, and they were free to go.

As with most animals, they popped back occasionally until they got used to their new surroundings, and eventually moved on to their new homes in the wild.

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EDUCATION We have lots of exciting learning opportunities at Secret World Wildlife Rescue.

Our outdoor learning programme offers exciting sessions such as nature walks, bird watching and bat detecting for young people in local schools or youth groups.

We also offer outreach talks to schools across Somerset, Bristol and Bath.

These can be based on the curriculum or a topic being covered in school.

Our talks are also suitable for scouting and guiding groups and local community groups such as the W.I.; we even offer care home visits.

There's something for everyone; don't miss out, book now for 2024.

Our onsite learning for over-16s offers a mixture of theory and practical sessions to support learning on animal management courses.

Interested in teaching your pupils more about British wildlife but can’t get to Secret World? Why not book us for an outreach session!

For more information about anything mentioned above, please take a look at our website or email: Learning@secretworld.org 22

Secret World – helping British wildlife

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Fantastic friends!

In Spring we said Goodbye to a very special friend. Chris Cornell was a devoted nature lover and did so much to help our flora and fauna. Anyone who visited in previous years will remember him as the flamboyant gentleman running the cake stand with Jenny. As well as giving so much time over the years, he bought most of the cakes from his ‘Mothers Union’ friends and Jenny baked a lot of cakes and biscuits, too.

He was a true friend and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

We were first contacted by Phoebe in January when she asked to visit us as part of her school project on wildlife rehabilitation in the UK. It was our pleasure to be able to assist with this.

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Phoebe interviewed our Learning and Engagement Officer, George, when she visited and was given a tour around our facilities. It was lovely to hear from Phoebe again in July after she displayed her project at an evening showcase in her school. We were thrilled when Phoebe donated the life-sized animals that she had created as part of her project, and we cannot wait to get them up in our Learning Centre.

Thank you, Phoebe!

Beverley Bowe and Helen Allen teamed up to run a fundraising auction on Facebook. It was a tremendous success with a wide variety of donated items.

They received bids totalling £451!

In June we were visited by Polden Bower School, their students taking part in one of our work-related learning activities. The students learned about the decline of hedgehogs in the UK and then built some hedgehog houses that will be used when we send our ‘hogs for release. We look forward to working with Polden Bower in the future on more work-related learning projects. Great work Polden Bower; our hogs thank you!

Anna Ambler had a great fundraising idea: growing and selling red sunflower plants. As well as spreading joy with the beautiful flowers, she raised £158 for wildlife and handed out lots of leaflets at her workplace.

Ruth and Raymond Bailey have done a lot of fundraising volunteering for SWWR. They started out helping at our Fun Days and have very kindly arranged collections in their local area, including a stall at Cobbs Whole Foods that raised £119.06.

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A big thank you to Owen, store manager for Radstock Co-op in Timsbury, who signed up for our Skydive for Wild Lives challenge as part of our Charity of the Year partnership with the retailer.

Through JustGiving donations and bucket collections in their stores, he raised an amazing £812.He was joined by supporter Michelle, who made £735 in sponsorship.

ea.com

Sixteen people joined our Sponsored Beach Walk, organised with the Ritz Social Club, in June. We’re very grateful for them coming out on a grey and windy day, and for raising £1,488 between them. Special mention to bar manager Paul for walking over 12 miles dressed as Bertie the Fox!

A group of brave fundraisers chose mud over sand and took part in Tough Mudder South West’s 15K challenge.

Organised by Shirl, one of our volunteers, they completed a gruelling obstacle course, including barbed wire and electric shocks!

They raised an amazing £1,154 between them.

Photo: Mark Newman / Burnham-on-s

If you’re up for a challenge that helps wildlife, see page 27 for information on our upcoming events and activities.

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Secret World – helping British wildlife

D L I GO W 2024 IN

We’re looking for Wildlife Heroes to take on a challenge in 2024 and raise money for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. If you’re up for one of these memorable experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

NEW YEAR’S DIP

Clevedon Marine Lake, 1st January, 11am A refreshing cold-water dip at this popular Somerset swimming spot.

Join the many mad people who take part in this annual tradition. No minimum sponsorship, just raise what you can and have fun!

SKYDIVE AND WINGWALK CHALLENGE DAY

Skydive Buzz, Honiton, 11th May Take to the skies for one of these highoctane challenges or try both if you’re brave enough! 10am for skydiving, a thrilling 15,000ft jump with 60 seconds of freefall. £50 deposit, minimum sponsorship £395.

1:30pm for wingwalking, a wild

10-minute ride on top of a bi-plane reaching 130mph. £100 deposit, minimum sponsorship £599.

TOUGH MUDDER SOUTH WEST

Badminton Estate, 10th August, 11am The ultimate assault course. Can you conquer over 20 obstacles spread out over 10 miles? Join our team of muddy fundraisers and help each other across the finish line. Registration fee £20, minimum sponsorship £200 if booked before mid-December.

Registration is essential for all these challenges. Please see our website events.secretworld.org or email fundraising@secretworld.org for more details.

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VALIANT VOLUNTEERS Claire joined us as a volunteer ambulance driver in January of this year – she jumped straight into the role with a such a positive can-do attitude. She is always eager to take on new challenges and give things a go. Claire has taken the initiative to involve herself in lots of training and courses that are available to volunteers and has become very knowledgeable within her role, both on wildlife care sections and rescuing in the ambulance. Claire will often come in and help us at very short notice and has become a highly valued member of our volunteer team! Thank you, Claire, for all the ways that you support us!

Steve has volunteered with SWWR for the past 7 years and is a very important member of the team here.

Steve mostly supports our Wildlife Release Coordinator in assisting with all the very manual work involved with setting up soft-release enclosures and ensuring the safe release of animals back into the wild. He also supports our fundraising events by educating the public and giving talks on wildlife. If this wasn’t enough, Steve is regularly out rescuing orphaned and injured wildlife, and he even helps with the maintenance of our vehicles. Thank you, Steve!

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Secret World – helping British wildlife

We currently have 305 volunteers that selflessly give their time and energy to Secret World Wildlife Rescue. They are the backbone of our organisation and without them we would not be able to help the number of animals and wildlife that we do. Their passion and support in aiding our cause is invaluable to the charity.

Gemma joined our volunteer team 3 years ago and supports our busy reception team with a reliable shift every Saturday morning.

Gemma is always full of energy and eager to help where she can; she helps us with fundraising events throughout the year and often responds to rescue call outs at all hours of the day. We don’t know how she does it all alongside a full-time job and family commitments; she’s a superhero!

Jane volunteers with the team at our new retail unit and regularly comes in to sort through mountains of clothing donations to get them ready to be distributed to our four charity shops. Marlies, our Retail Support Executive, said: “Jane is amazing; we don’t know what we’d do without her help and support.”

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Second Chances The owners of the horse box kindly A recent trip to Somerset led to the discovery of a nest of blue tits took the wing mirror off and it was in the wing mirror of a horse box. transported, complete with the baby The horse box had travelled for over 3 hours before the owner was alerted by hungry cheeping from the tiny birds inside. SWWR was contacted, and a Response Driver sent out, only to find that it was almost impossible to get them out.

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blue tits. Dan, one of our Wildlife Supervisors, very carefully cajoled them out by manipulating one chick at a time. Eventually, with a lot of patience, all eight chicks were out and demanding to be fed. The wing mirror was returned to the owners, who were pleased to hear that all the chicks had been saved. The chicks dealt very well with the ordeal and were eventually released.

In mid-April we received a phone call about two badger cubs that were spotted alone with no sign of mum.

In mid-April we received a phone call about two badger cubs that were spotted alone with no sign of mum. We were able to quickly send two of our Response Drivers who were on site to go and rescue the cubs. The cubs, who were around 8 weeks old, were underweight and dehydrated on arrival at SWWR; they also had a large parasite burden. The combination of these factors led us

to believe that they may have been away from mum for some time.

The cubs received fluid therapy, to rehydrate them, and also treatment for the parasites. After looking into whether a natal return – reuniting orphaned animals with their parents - was possible, it was decided that the cubs would stay at the centre for rehabilitation.

It had been decided that this year badger cubs would be named after wildflowers, and these brothers are now officially known as Nightshade and Burdock.

In June we had this young jay brought into us by a member of the public.

In June we had this young jay brought into us by a member of the public. Jays are not a common admission here at SWWR; in 2022 we only dealt with four and they do not tend to do very well whilst in a captive environment. On admission, this jay was on 3-hourly feeds of corvid mix, which includes chopped chicks and mince, until eventually he began feeding himself. After spending a couple of weeks in his pre-release aviary, he is now back where he belongs living in the wild.

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Secret World Events & Courses SECRET WORLD'S WILD WEEKEND 24th-27th May

A bran new ev d e for 202 nt 4

Something wild is coming, watch out for more details!

Visit www.secretworld.org for full details and updates

EVENTS 7th November, 2023

18th December, 2023

1st January, 2024

Talk at Morland Community Hub, Highbridge

Christmas pub quiz at Ritz Social Club

New Year’s Dip at Clevedon Marine Lake

30th March, 2024

11th May, 2024

3rd June, 2024

Secret World’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’

Skydive fundraising challenge

Pub quiz at Ritz Social Club

24th-27th May, 2024

10th August 2024

Autumn 2024

Secret World’s ‘Wild Weekend’

Tough Mudder South West

17th annual Auction and Ball, details coming soon!

COURSES 25th November 2023

9th December 2023

Rescue, Care and Rehabilitation of Foxes

Wildlife Course 4

Rescue, Care and Rehabilitation of Garden Birds

13th January 2024

3rd February 2024 Wildlife Course 2

10th-11th February 2024 SWWR Caring for British Wildlife Conference

18th November 2023

Wildlife Course 1

16th March 2024 Wildlife Course 3

6th April 2024

28th April 2024

29th-31st July 2024

Wildlife Course 4

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release Practical Course

Working with Wildlife (14-19yr olds)

m 01278 783250 k info@secretworld.org E facebook.com/secretworldwildlife D @SWWR www.secretworld.org

Secret World Wildlife Rescue, New Road, East Huntspill, Highbridge TA9 3PZ. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales: Company number 4672215, Charity number 1097119.