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You are in: Nottingham > Features > People > Home becomes animal hospital

Fox in Wendy Radford's sanctuary

Fox in Wendy Radford's sanctuary

Home becomes animal hospital

A Nottinghamshire woman has created a sanctuary for injured and orphaned animals at her home.

"I've got a passion for wild animals, I respect that they are wild, they're not like pets, they are actually going back to their environment."

Wendy Radford

Although Wendy Radford has two children, struggles with ME and works as an art teacher, she still finds time to save the lives of scores of animals in her back garden.

Recent additions have included orphaned fox cubs, rescued from a building site.

The animals are kept wild in the garden and eventually returned to the wild.

"I've got a passion for wild animals, I respect that they are wild, they're not like pets, they are actually going back to their environment," says Wendy.

Wendy's garden in Kirkby-in-Ashfiled is a wildlife haven. Up to 100 animals a month are brought here.

Hedgehog being fed milk

Hedgehogs live in Wendy's garage

"It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of smelly work. I really don't think many people could do this.

"We'll just get sat down at night and get called out to a rescue but it don't matter what time, we just go."

This year their garage became a hospital, popular at the moment with injured owls and hedgehogs.

It's also costly, £10,000 a year to run and funded mostly by donations. Also, as an artist Wendy is now selling her pictures to raise money.

It's all a massive commitment, so what drives her?

"It's just love... and no one else is doing it."

last updated: 09/10/07

You are in: Nottingham > Features > People > Home becomes animal hospital



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