Tiggywinkles
Beginnings
Tucked off a country road just outside the village of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, is Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital. Founded in 1978 by Sue and Les Stocker, and their son Colin, Tiggywinkles began life in their garden shed in Aylesbury. In the 19070s, veterinary care for domestic animals was widely available, but facilities for wildlife were lacking. With a growing reputation among the public and animal welfare bodies for helping injured wildlife, the Stockers soon found they were overflowing with casualties. The hospital was funded through their own savings until 1983, when it became a Registered Charity.
In 1984, a separate shed was built to accommodate the vast number of hedgehogs which were brought in. This influx coincided with the drought of 1984, when a national campaign ran to raise awareness of the vulnerability of hedgehogs. People were encouraged to leave appropriate food and drink out for hedgehogs (ie. dog food, and water, not bread and milk!) With more people looking out for hedgehogs, there was greater likelihood of sick or injured animals being picked up. The hedgehog shed was named St. Tiggywinkles, after the Beatrix Potter character, and over time the hospital as a whole became known as ‘Tiggywinkles’. By 1991, the demand for wildlife hospital services was so high that a dedicated building was constructed, from where the organisation continues to operate.
Today
Every Tiggywinkles patient is given a chance at life, and if they recover but not to the extent they can be returned to the wild, they spend the rest of their days at the centre. The homes provided are as close to the animals’ natural environment as possible. Permanent residents include a three legged badger, and Emily and James, two European Eagle Owls. As Eagle Owls are not classed as native to the UK (although there is a small population in the UK), they cannot be released into the wild.
Diagnostic equipment and treatments available include x-rays, laser therapy, and physio. A team of highly skilled veterinary surgeons, nurses, and wildlife experts offer round the clock care for patients. Many of the wildlife treatment techniques pioneered at Tiggywinkles are now used around the world.
The hospital is open to casualties all day every day of the year. You do not need to book ahead to take an animal in, and there is no charge for the services. As a charity, Tiggywinkles relies support from the public – which might range from financial donations to volunteering.
Patients
I have visited a couple of times in the last three months, both occasions with injured pigeons which were beyond my ability to treat. In each case, the bird had an injured wing and needed specialist care. Sadly most vets and rescue bodies (not all) tend to resort to euthanasia in these situations. But both birds were otherwise bright, and in the case of the wood pigeon particularly feisty. It seemed only right that if they were determined to fight to live, they should be given the opportunity.
The typical approach for a pigeon with an injured wing includes radiographs towards diagnosing the problem. This is followed by appropriate treatment, which might include strapping, pain relief, and physio. Once the bird has recovered, it will be released into one of the aviaries where it has the opportunity to gain strength and practice flying, before being set free. As pigeons are social animals, they tend to be released in a group, or with another local flock of birds.
As part of the booking in process, a unique reference number is allocated to the casualty. This means that after 14 days, rescuers can call for an update on the patient. It was heartwarming to hear that the first pigeon I dropped off was recovering well and would be released. Next weekend will be 14 days for the second one and I hope for similar good news.
Visitor Centre
During my most recent visit, I stayed on to look around the visitor centre. Open 10am-4pm Thursday-Monday, the centre offers people a chance to see some of the residents and others who live on site – such as the handful of herons nesting around one of the lake areas. The visitor section also has a hedgehog museum, education rooms, information boards, play area, shop, and café.
Support
Find out more about Tiggywinkles, including how to support their work, here. Their 24 hour emergency helpline number is: 01844 292292.
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Thanks for that really interesting blog Emma. I remember reading about Tiggywinkles years ago, probably when they started out. It’s good to know there are people out there who really care for those vulnerable wild creatures.
Thanks, Eileen. I remember them being featured on Blue Peter years ago, and I think they’ve been on more recently too. It’s good to know there are people who care enough to try to help wildlife, rather than giving up straight away. The visitor centre is well worth visiting – the museum is fascinating!