About Us

Our Work

We rescue and rehabilitate wildlife from West Kent and East Sussex, treating and hand rearing around 3,500 animals each year.  

As well as providing specialist care and veterinary treatment for injured, orphaned and distressed animals, we strive to educate the community of the plight of our wildlife and hopefully help reduce the number of accidents and incidents occurring. 

Our Nature Reserve

Based on a site of 6 acres, much of our land surrounding the hospital includes remnants of former heathland that once made up the Broadwater Forest.  

An ecological survey, very kindly carried out pro bono by Dolphin Ecological Surveys in 2010, produced a management plan to help restore this land to the bio-diverse mosaic of historic woodlands that once stood here.  

This work is currently being undertaken by a small number of volunteers, who are already making good progress. We also have a small flock of hardy sheep who graze on the land that has already been cleared. 

If you’d like to get involved, please take a read through our Volunteering page to see which roles we have available. 

Our Wildlife Trip Was Very Memorable

1987
Animal Aid in Tonbridge

Annette Risley (Founder), working at Animal Aid at the time, brought home an injured hedgehog that a member of the public had found

1993
Expanding

Annette and her family moved to Folly Cottage in Eridge. The work (which at the time was really little more than a hobby) continued, but already, small numbers of injured birds and other animals were being admitted.

1994
Giant Leap

with the number of admissions rapidly rising, Annette realized that there was a real need for a service of this nature and so Folly Wildlife Rescue was born! 

2000
Breakthroughs

In November 2000, there were two major breakthroughs, the first being a donation of £5000 by Sir Paul McCartney, in memory of his late wife Linda, and the second, the assistance Folly started to receive from the Crowborough, East Grinstead branch of the RSPCA, who not only donated a wide range of equipment, but our first wildlife ambulance too!

2002

Registered charity status was applied for and The Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust, registered charity number 1091857, officially came into being!

2005
the Wildlife Centre Project

The Wildlife Centre Project was launched, with the aim of raising, within 5 years, the £185,000 that it was estimated would be needed to establish a dedicated wildlife hospital (this figure, as it turned out, was grossly underestimated!)

2008
Broadwater Forest

Funding had been secured and a potential site on the Broadwater Forest had been identified

2009

A planning application was submitted to Wealden District Council. 

2010

Permission for the hospital was granted. 

9th April 2012
Groundworks

The Broadwater Forest Wildlife Hospital (Folly’s dedicated wildlife hospital) opened its doors for the first casualty admission – a hedgehog! 

We’re incredibly proud of the history of Folly Wildlife Rescue and the tireless work that our Founders, Annette and Dave Risley, put in to create a charity that provides an accessible and comprehensive service to local wildlife and the community.

Education

As well as the practical work we carry out in our Wildlife Hospital, Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust is committed to raising awareness of the plight facing much of our of wildlife. Many of these hazards are communicated through our talks to school children, colleges and community groups, with the Trust working to promote the message that everyone can help reduce the deadly toll the modern world is taking on our natural wildlife heritage.

If you would like to hear more about our Educational Talks, please email admin@fwrt.org.uk to find out more information.

Meet the Team

Liz Chandler

General Manager

Hannah Hall

Wildlife Hospital Manager

Tricia Dale-Jones

Assistant General Manager

Dr Ashley Clayton

Veterinary Surgeon
(1.5 days a week) 

Dr Joanna Mihr

Veterinary Surgeon (1 day a week) 

Rachel Bright

Veterinary Nurse

Pru Scudder

Volunteer Coordinator

Charlotte McLoughlin

Supervisor 

Amber Palfrey

Wildlife Care Assistant

Megan Mitchell

Wildlife Care Assistant

Lucy Spence

Wildlife Care Assistant

Phil Bannister

Wildlife Rescue Coordinator

Olivia Hall

CEO and Co-Founder

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Ella Perez

Nutrition Expert

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Daisy Rivera

HR Executive

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Our Patrons

We’re extremely lucky to have the support of our 4 passionate patrons, who have all seen first-hand the work we do.   

The role of patron is not to offer any monetary support but to share our work and to support our fundraising.  

Jilly Goolden

We first got to know Jilly in 2004 when we were called to assist with a fallow deer she had rescued after it had been caught on a wire fence on the Ashdown Forest. A wine critic, journalist and lifestyle presenter, Jilly kindly donated her substantial share of the telephone vote from “I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here” to Folly Wildlife Rescue. Jilly also enjoys getting hands on with our work, volunteering in the spring and summer to give us an extra pair of hands during the busy season!  

Johnny Depp

Following the success of our patron Jeff Beck’s UK tour, Johnny visited Folly Wildlife Rescue in May 2022 to see for himself the Trust’s work with wildlife, we are delighted that Johnny has done us the great honour of agreeing to become a patron. 

This is wonderful news, as it not only gives a much-deserved boost to our hard-working staff and volunteers but will help bring attention to the increasingly desperate plight of wildlife, that worldwide is under ever-increasing pressure from human activities – and needs all the help it can get. 

Sandra Beck

United in her love for wildlife with late husband Jeff, Sandra has always been incredibly supportive and involved with our work, and her kindness and compassion for wildlife shines through. 

“I was absolutely knocked out and thrilled to be asked to become a Patron for Folly Wildlife Rescue. Wildlife means a great deal to me and I look forward to the bright future of this incredible charity.” - Sandra Beck 

Dave Davies

Dave Davies, lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Kinks, became a patron in July 2024 after visiting our wildlife hospital to meet the team and see our site. A champion of our work, Dave is extremely active at promoting our charity via his social media platforms and generously donates signed memorabilia and merchandise to our online auction to help us raise much needed funds for the charity. 

In memory of Jeff Beck, Patron of Folly Wildlife Rescue: 2005-2023
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Partnering with

Bells IT Support

Sarah Medway, Graphic Design

Kentec Mail & Courier Service Ltd

Aletta Harrison Media

AVT Group

Chapter Thirty-Six

Facts You Should Know

We are extremely thankful for you support and your generous donations and contributions.

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Years Of Service

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Admitted Animals Per Year

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Funds Raised - November 2024

Student Volunteer Application Form

All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


    If the answer is no, would you please make arrangements with your GP to be immunised before commencing work with the Trust.

    If you suffer from asthma, have a bronchial complaint, or are in any way allergic to animals (fur, feathers etc.), you may wish to consult your GP before considering an application for voluntary work with the Trust.

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    Wildlife Care Volunteer – Mornings Only

    All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


      If the answer is no, would you please make arrangements with your GP to be immunised before commencing work with the Trust.

      If you suffer from asthma, have a bronchial complaint, or are in any way allergic to animals (fur, feathers etc.), you may wish to consult your GP before considering an application for voluntary work with the Trust.

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      Afternoon Volunteer For General Duties

      All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


        If the answer is no, would you please make arrangements with your GP to be immunised before commencing work with the Trust.

        If you suffer from asthma, have a bronchial complaint, or are in any way allergic to animals (fur, feathers etc.), you may wish to consult your GP before considering an application for voluntary work with the Trust.

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        Folly Fundraiser Volunteer

        All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


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          Folly Land Army Volunteer

          All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


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            Wildlife Collection Driver Volunteer Form

            All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


              Thank you for your offer of help with collecting injured / orphaned / distressed wildlife and bringing them to our wildlife hospital at Broadwater Forest for assessment

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              Wildlife Hospital Reception Volunteer

              All information given is kept private and confidential. We only use the information provided for the purpose of volunteer selection. Once completed please click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page and we will contact you in due course.


                If the answer is no, would you please make arrangements with your GP to be immunised before commencing work with the Trust.

                If you suffer from asthma, have a bronchial complaint, or are in any way allergic to animals (fur, feathers etc.), you may wish to consult your GP before considering an application for voluntary work with the Trust.

                This will close in 0 seconds