After careful consideration, Secret World Limited has made the difficult decision to close its Langport Store. This decision has been made as part of our long-term commitment to protecting the charity's future. Following a detailed review of the store's future...

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

When I first started looking after wildlife, I always felt that no matter how large or small, common or rare, every animal has the right to care and pain relief. People often question ‘why bother?’ The answer to that is that everything is linked and has a place in the order of life. We are only just realising that insect life is important to the survival of our small birds, and it follows through the predator/prey chain of life to our very own existence. One of the things that the human race depends on is pollinating insects and we should never underestimate the fragility of life.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

May Day is a bank holiday giving workers a day off, but in folklore it was a time of celebration as spring moves into summer. Even as far back as the Roman times it was a time when an event was held dedicated to the goddess Flora known for flowers, vegetation and fertility.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

Spring has arrived! Some animals such as fawns and leverets (young hares) are left by their mothers while they forage and return to their young when they need feeding. However, if an animal appears injured, crying or in bad condition, action needs to be taken.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

Mother’s Day in March reminds me of the strong bond that wildlife has. That desire to save their young can be amazing. If you come across a nest while working in the garden or discover a beautiful fawn curled up in long grass, as long as they look healthy and aren’t crying, the babies are really best left alone.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

A few years ago, in February, we received an urgent call from a couple in Bristol. It was 1 a.m. on a freezing night. A distressed young man told me about a badger trapped in the river next to the S.S. Great Britain. “He’s making a terrible noise, crying for help,” he said. I felt helpless; we had no volunteers in Bristol at that hour, yet I couldn’t ignore the situation.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

The dark nights increase our call outs to deer that all too often collide with cars, very often causing a lot of damage to the deer and the car. Only 20 % of call outs results in finding a deer that can be brought back to our centre for treatment. A lot of people don’t realise that deer usually go blind with stress. It will come back within a few days which just gives us enough time to deal with any wounds they may have. It is always wonderful to take them back to their territory and see them run off for their second chance in the wild.

As we come to the end of the year and approach the Christmas season, I want to take a moment to say a very heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

With the days getting shorter and the cold weather starting to arrive, most wildlife is concentrating on getting ready for winter. Territories are not so clearly defined during this time as food becomes scarce. Many of the hedges around the fields are being cut, taking away the last vestiges of berries and fruit that could help support wildlife.

Written by Pauline Kidner
Charity Founder and Advisor

We have always received members of the Mustelidae family—otters, badgers, stoats, and weasels—both adults and juveniles. Now, we are beginning to see polecats among our casualties, though it’s not always easy to distinguish them from escaped ferrets (their behaviour, however, is often a good indicator).