The Wildlife Hospital
For animal rescue emergencies: +44 (0) 7720 495238
Our Wildlife Hospital exists because of one person’s belief that animals deserve better.
The hospital was made possible through a generous legacy left by Joyce Walker, a long-time supporter of The Retreat, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 93. Her wish was to create something lasting — something that would continue helping animals long after she was gone. Today, that legacy lives on through every animal treated in our care.
What We Do
Our on-site wildlife hospital and treatment room allow us to provide immediate care for injured, orphaned, and vulnerable animals.
We treat a wide range of wildlife, including:
Birds (from tiny garden birds to gulls and pigeons)
Mammals (including foxes, hedgehogs, and wild rabbits)
Newborns requiring intensive care and feeding
Having a dedicated hospital space on-site means animals can be treated quickly, safely, and with minimal stress - something that is critical for survival.
The hospital provides:
Quiet, controlled recovery areas
Intensive care for newborn and critical cases
Treatment for injury, illness, trauma, and cruelty cases
Rehabilitation support before release back into the wild
During spring, the hospital becomes a busy maternity ward, filled with orphaned and vulnerable young animals needing round-the-clock care.
The Scale of Care
This is not occasional rescue work - it is constant.
Based on recorded treatment room data (which is not fully complete), over the past year we have cared for:
150+ pigeons
70+ gulls
40+ ducks and ducklings
40+ garden birds
20+ corvids (crows, magpies, jackdaws)
25+ squabs (baby pigeons)
25+ doves (collared & domestic)
10+ wild rabbits and leverets
10+ small mammals (rats, mice, hedgehog)
Plus foxes, moorhens, pheasants, geese, and more
We also regularly take in domestic and abandoned animals, including guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, and farm birds.
Why It Matters
Without access to immediate treatment, many of these animals would not survive.
By having a fully functioning hospital on-site, we are able to:
Respond quickly to emergencies
Reduce stress for already vulnerable animals
Provide care that would otherwise be unavailable
Give animals the best possible chance of recovery and release
A Living Legacy
Joyce Walker’s kindness continues every day through this work.
From the smallest orphaned bird to larger wildlife in urgent need, her legacy ensures that animals arriving at The Retreat are not turned away - they are treated, cared for, and given a second chance.
The Reality
These numbers are not complete.
Not every animal is recorded, and during peak periods the focus is always on treatment - not paperwork. The true number of animals helped is higher than what is shown.
What is certain is this:
The hospital is used. Constantly.