Tiggywinkles is a British
animal welfare
Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...
charity and wildlife hospital, also known as St Tiggywinkles and The Wildlife Hospital Trust. Tiggywinkles, which specialises in the rescue and treatment of
wild animals, was founded in 1983 as the Wildlife Hospital Trust by
Les Stocker as the United Kingdom's first wildlife hospital.
The name derives from the
hedgehog character in
Beatrix Potter's story ''
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
''The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle'' is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. Mrs. Tiggy-winkle is a hedgehog washerwoman (laundress) who lives in a tiny cottage in t ...
''.
It is based at
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, where it operates an animal hospital and visitor centre, and teaches wild animal practice to
veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
History
The animal welfare hospital takes its name from the character in the children's story ''
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
''The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle'' is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. Mrs. Tiggy-winkle is a hedgehog washerwoman (laundress) who lives in a tiny cottage in t ...
'', by English writer and illustrator
Beatrix Potter.
In 1978, Les and Sue Stocker and their son Colin started caring for injured wild animals. In the following years, their activities began to attract attention and led to increasing numbers of animals being brought into their home. The Stockers formally registered The Wildlife Hospital Trust as a charity in 1983.
Les Stocker was the recipient of a
Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1990 for his work at the hospital.
In 1991, he was made a
Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to wildlife. Les Stocker died on 16 July 2016, after a short illness, aged 73.
In 2018–9, Tiggywinkles had an annual expenditure of £1,618,673.
Cultural impact
Les Stocker wrote a popular account of his work at the hospital, ''Something in a Cardboard Box: Tales from a Wildlife Hospital'' (1989) and a number of books based on the work of the hospital, including a veterinary manual'', Practical Wildlife Care'' (2000).
Beginning in July 2008, Tiggywinkles was the setting for ''Wild Animal ER'', a 20-part, half-hour documentary TV series presented by
Kate Gerbeau, and shown on
Channel Five in the UK.
It was also featured in the first episode of ''
Come Outside'' called "Hedgehogs".
See also
*
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
*
Wildlife rehabilitation
References
External links
*
* {{EW charity, 286447, The Wildlife Hospital Trust
Profile of Les StockerA hospital for nonhumans
1983 establishments in the United Kingdom
Animal charities based in the United Kingdom
Animal welfare organisations based in the United Kingdom
Charities based in Buckinghamshire
Organizations established in 1983
Veterinary hospitals
Wildlife rehabilitation and conservation centers
Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom