Caring for Britain’s Wildlife Since 1984
Every year, Vale Wildlife Hospital rescues, treats and rehabilitates more than 8,000 injured and orphaned wild animals.
How It All Started
Vale Wildlife Hospital began in the most humble of places – the family home of founder Caroline Gould MBE in the village of Cropthorne, Worcestershire, in 1984. Although Caroline had always had a strong interest in animals, the challenges faced by wild animals when their lives intersect with human activity had not yet fully come into focus.
That changed one day when a local vet contacted her to ask if she could care for an injured tawny owl that had been brought into the practice.
That single owl opened the door to a much bigger realisation: countless wild animals suffer every day when their lives intersect with human activity, often with no one available to help them.
Determined to change that, Caroline began caring for injured wildlife from her home. What started as a small act of compassion quickly grew into something much larger. Over the following years, with dedication, resilience and support from others who shared the same passion for wildlife, Vale Wildlife Hospital steadily developed into a vital lifeline for injured and orphaned wild animals.
Today, Vale Wildlife Hospital is one of the UK’s leading wildlife rehabilitation centres. Based in Beckford, between Tewkesbury and Evesham, the hospital treats thousands of wild animals every year, from small garden birds and hedgehogs to owls, foxes and deer.
Our Mission
To provide the highest possible standard of care for wildlife casualties, to return them to the wild whenever possible, and to promote understanding and compassion for wildlife through education and awareness.
Run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, We work around the clock to rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned wildlife back into the wild where they belong. Our mission is simple but powerful.
What began with a single injured owl has grown into a trusted and respected organisation committed to giving every wild animal the best possible chance of survival.
Our Hospital
To care for the thousands of animals that arrive each year, our wildlife hospital has grown into a specialist centre designed to meet the needs of many different species. Today, we admit more than 8,000 wildlife casualties every year, from small garden birds and hedgehogs to owls, foxes and deer.
Our facilities include a fully equipped treatment room, specialist areas for different species, and brooder rooms for vulnerable young animals. As they recover, many patients move to outdoor aviaries and rehabilitation enclosures where they rebuild strength and prepare for release back to the wild.
Because our patients need a quiet and controlled environment to recover, the hospital is not open to the public. However, you can take a look behind the scenes by watching the video below, which shows some of the facilities where wildlife is treated and rehabilitated.
Support Our Future
We are continually working on improvements and development projects to expand and upgrade our facilities so we can provide the very best care. If you would like to help us continue this work and give injured wildlife the best possible chance of recovery, please consider making a donation today.
