HART Wildlife Rescue was founded early in 1996 by June and Bob Gibbs at their home in Overton as a result of a request from an RSPCA officer to overwinter some hedgehogs at Dellands.

The Hampshire Animal Rescue Team, as the charity was originally known, has gradually grown and now completely dominates their semi-detached home and garden.

Most of the patients are looked after in two well-equipped sheds and several aviaries, although hedgehogs are also kept outside in hutches when they are well on the way to recovery and release.

Currently June is running the centre relying on volunteers who give their time and help in many ways – anything and everything from cleaning cages to the vital fundraising and event management.

Plea

If you have been browsing through our site you will already be aware that we are trying to raise funds for a new hospital centre. The number of patients helped has grown year on year and we have now reached the point where June and Bob's home can no longer expand to meet the demand. This means that periodically we have to close until space can be made available. For these reasons alone we need to move to new premises but I would also just like to highlight the following little known facts:

• Bob and June take only a small contribution towards electricity costs from the Trust and nothing else.
• June is over 60 and still actively involved with the cleaning/feeding and treatment of patients
• June steps in when we're short staffed, stretched to the limits and covers all early morning and late feeds
• Their home is continually filled with staff and volunteers from 7am until 8pm
• Their dining room is now our office
• They are unable to read or watch television in peace due to the constantly ringing telephone and admissions at the front door
• Their basement is now our food store
• Their once beautiful garden is now filled with sheds, aviaries and a fairly constant stream of ducklings destroying the lawn

Imagine what this would be like - could you do it?

A new centre would enable Bob and June to have a home again, somewhere they can enjoy some peace and privacy. They will still remain actively involved in the centre but would be able to choose how and when instead of it being imposed on them. If you can afford to make a donation, large or small, then please click the Donate Now button or see our Donate section. Thank you.