The Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre is designed principally to provide education and information on our specialist work. Through the use of interpretation boards, leaflets and videos, visitors can learn about the history of the Hospital, the type of animals we treat and some of the innovative techniques we employ.

This sanctuary gives the animals who cannot be returned to the wild a chance to live a near natural, but protected life.

During the Spring and Summer months visitors can also see into our nursery areas and watch our staff hand rearing some of the thousands of orphaned birds and mammals we care for every year.

Who we are and what we do

 
Every year in Britain over five million wild animals and birds are injured as a direct result of their encounters with man and man's world. Tiggywinkles, The Wildlife Hospital Trust, is a specialist hospital. Using every available veterinary welfare skill, we are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of British wildlife.

Since opening our doors over 200,000 patients have received treatment at Tiggywinkles.

All British wild animal casualties brought to the hospital are treated completely free of charge and are released through a controlled programme, back to the wild, when they are fully fit. No sick, injured or orphaned wild creature is ever turned away.

Every casualty is given a chance, we only ever use euthanasia as a last resort. Any animal or bird unable to be released back to the wild is maintained at the Hospital, in as natural conditions as possible.

 
Medical treatment is carried out by a team of trained veterinary nurses and specialist consultant veterinary surgeons. This enables us to give our patients ground breaking treatment and the best possible care. Our veterinary team has pioneered much of the treatment now used for wildlife throughout the country. Our expertise and knowledge on all species is used worldwide. Over the years we have perfected techniques for hedgehogs, badgers, deer and other species and have a commitment to passing on this information through books, papers, courses and lectures to veterinary schools.

The experiences of our Hospital staff are helping many of the millions of casualties across the world, most of which are now being looked after thanks to the positive attitude of Tiggywinkles.Tiggywinkles survives on a solid base of membership and relies on donations from the general public and sponsors to thrive. It receives no state funding of any kind and no financial assistance from conservation groups.

NEW Red Kite aviaries and Red Kite information centre in the visitor centre. Also, attached to our hedgehog museum we now have a Bone Exhibition.