THE HART Wildlife Rescue hospital has had to temporarily close to new admissions.

For the past 12 years the charity has grown out of all proportion and neither June and Bob Gibbs, or their semi-detached home and garden at Dellands, Overton, can keep up with the demands placed on them. Over 1000 admissions have been coming through their front door in recent years, as well as an endless troupe of volunteers who arrive every day to help clean out and feed the patients.

“The strain of providing such an amazing service to wildlife from one’s own home would have been intolerable for most people long before now and we must be very grateful to June and Bob for keeping it going for so many years,” said David Horner, chairman of the trustees.

“Our big concern during this period of hospital closure is not just what will happen to all the sick, injured and abandoned creatures that members of the public will find and want saved, but also how the students who have been coming to us for work experience will cope with the news. There are very few facilities in Hampshire that can offer the training in wildlife care that HART has provided over the years and work experience is a vital part of their studies.”

However, HART will continue with its other important activities such as offering advice and information on wildlife care and rehabilitation through its web site and taking up invitations to visit schools and other organisations.

For the past five years HART has been trying to raise funds for a purpose-built wildlife hospital and education centre which is so obviously needed to cater for the huge demand. Sadly, planning permission to build on a site in Kingsclere Road, Overton, expired in March and no other suitable land has been found. A domestic house and garden is not suitable in the long-term for caring for wildlife as peace and quiet is essential to their recovery.

“While a team of fundraisers has been working well for many years the money raised has only managed to cover the day-to-day running costs of the centre and we are still short of the sum needed to build a new centre,” David added.

“We have recently opened a charity shop in Alton, and this is proving very successful, but we still need some substantial donations before we can proceed with building the new centre. Our intention is to keep the fundraising going and find somewhere suitable to build or acquire existing premises.

“The level of demand for HART’s service proves the need for the new centre and our efforts to raise the necessary funds and establish a new location will continue with determination.”

During the period of hospital closure it is suggested that anyone finding a wildlife casualty takes it to their local vet or ring the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for advice.

Since the announcement there has been a tremendous response from the media and we have included a few links for your interest:

ITV Local News (video clip)
Get Hampshire
Basingstoke Gazette
This is Hampshire
Daily Echo
Goodworth Clatford
Whitchurch Parish Magazine

Please do not leave casualties outside the door at Dellands as this will cause great distress.

ALTON’s first animal welfare charity shop has opened in the Mall. It will help to benefit creatures being cared for by HART Wildlife Rescue which, based in Overton, takes in patients from all over Hampshire.

Local radio DJ Jane Davenport declared the shop officially open live on Delta FM after interviewing Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Mrs Paula Baker, who is one of the charity’s trustees. The ribbon cutting ceremony had to be shelved until later in the day as so many customers were already flocking into the shop to see what bargains they could find.

The shop will bring in much needed funds to the charity which has been working from its original premises, a semi-detached house and garden, for 12 years. It now receives upwards of 1000 admissions every year and desperately needs to move on to a purpose built wildlife hospital and education centre.

The first day was a great success with takings in excess of £200 taken from selling books, bric-a-brac, clothes, videos, DVDs and other donated items. Much of the shop fitting and all the work to renovate it and get it running was provided by HART volunteers Alison and Adrian Keeble, Jane Rebut and Peter Mart. They were especially grateful for the support of Gill and Mick Neeve, from the East Hampshire Badger Group; Carl and Marcia Gulliford, of Commercial and General Interiors; and Sheila Pewsey.

More help is still needed to help run the shop and the charity would be pleased to hear from anyone who could spare a couple of hours. Contact Jane Rebut on 07966 223828.

“We would also like to extend a warm welcome to everyone to come and have a look around whenever they are passing,” added Paula Baker. “Our wildlife needs your support!”

The HART Wildlife Rescue charity shop is located in the Mall between the High Street and Bank car park, follow the sign from the High Street.

This beautiful pair of robins will ensure the latest Christmas cards produced by HART Wildlife Rescue are a pleasure to receive. Not see the second one? He’s hiding behind the twigs on the left!

Captured on camera by HART volunteer Trish Hamlen, the cards are just £5 for a pack of 10 and all the profit will go towards the maintenance costs of the hospital at Dellands.

"We cannot produce cards in the numbers of larger charities so our costs are higher, but every penny they raise will be spent directly on caring for the animals and birds we treat here," said June Gibbs.

"Every card our supporters send to a friend or relative means that another person knows about our work and may then choose to support us as well."

The cards will be on sale at Basingstoke Christmas market on December 13 and can be purchased from reception at Dellands. But, if that is difficult, let HART know how many you would like by email help@hartwildlife.fsnet.co.uk. It is possible that a volunteer could deliver them for you.

To save hedgehogs and other wildlife from appalling suffering the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) urges that bonfires should not be built until the day they are to be lit. This will not only save wildlife from burning to death but will also stop the bonfire from getting soaked should it rain the night before! Fay Vass, Chief Executive of BHPS, said “Piles of bonfire material look like five star hotels to a hedgehog in search of a hibernation site. It is crucial to dismantle and move bonfire material that has been stored in advance on open ground. Move it to another spot just before lighting. Ensure it’s moved to clear ground - never on top of a pile of leaves as there could be a hedgehog underneath, and not too close to pampas grass which can ignite very easily and is another favourite spot for hedgehogs to hide under.

If a large bonfire has to be built in advance, protect it whilst building by putting some chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom. This should be held in place with stakes and the wire should slope outwards at an angle to make it difficult to climb, as hedgehogs are good climbers!

If, whilst building, a bonfire is left unattended, for however short a time; it’s imperative to check for young children, hedgehogs and other animals, including family pets, before lighting. As hedgehogs tend to hide in the centre and bottom two feet of the bonfire, check by gently lifting the bonfire section by section with a pole or broom. Never use a spade or fork as these can stab them. Using a torch will help and listen for a hissing sound, as this is the noise they make when disturbed. Fay added “If hedgehogs are found, take as much of the nest as you can and place them in a high-sided cardboard box with plenty of newspaper/old towelling. Ensure there are air holes in the lid and that the lid is secured firmly to the box, as hedgehogs are great climbers. Ideally, wear garden gloves so as not to get human smells on them and to avoid harassment as hedgehogs are easily stressed. Also, it protects your hands from their spikes. Put the box in a safe place such as a shed or garage well away from the festivities, as fireworks terrify them. Once the bonfire is totally dampened down, release the hedgehog under a hedge, bush or behind a stack of logs.

Going to an official organised fireworks display is a far safer option for both humans and animals.

NATURE-LOVERS gathered beneath the broad shade of a walnut tree to hear David Beeson talk about how he and his wife Annette created their wonderful wildlife-friendly garden on Andover Down.

Covering about an acre, the garden has featured in several gardening magazines and is sometimes open by appointment under the National Garden Scheme. But, for one day only, Forest Edge was open to the public for the benefit of HART Wildlife Rescue.

“We are very grateful to Annette and David for opening their garden to help the many animals and birds we look after,” said Bob Gibbs, one of the charity’s co-founders. “Most of the creatures that come to us have not had such a caring environment to live in and it costs a lot of money to nurse them back to health and release them somewhere safe.

“This afternoon raised £448, including two generous £50 cheques, so our thanks to everyone who came along to support us.”

During the afternoon gardening broadcaster and writer Pippa Greenwood, who is also one of HART's patrons, talked to visitors about their own gardens and helped to answer many of their gardening queries.

“It’s wonderful to be back in this delightful garden again,” said Pippa, a regular member of the panel on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. “It’s an inspiration to others and it’s great to see so many gardeners enjoying a day out and picking up ideas.”

As well as taking a leisurely stroll around the garden visitors spent time having teas and cakes, and carried home their purchases of plants, home produce and gardening books.

Mr and Mrs Angus of Fifield Lane, Amport, won the top prize raffle – a celebration cake made and iced by HART volunteer Lyn Hutchins.