Stapeley hits the 100,000 mark as it celebrates 20 years of success
A staggering 100,000 animals have now passed through the doors of the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery since it opened in 1994.
And it was a tiny blackbird with an infected eye which became the milestone admission to the centre which also celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, centre manager Lee Stewart has been doing a count up of all the animals which have been brought into Stapeley Grange.
The milestone figure signifies the important work that the centre provides in caring for sick and injured cats and wildlife.
To celebrate the centre’s 20th anniversary staff and volunteers at the centre are hoping to raise £50,000 this year through a series of fundraising events.
All funds raised will be used to buy vital equipment for the hospital, to support Stapeley’s education programme as well as help to cover some of the cost of feeding and looking after the animals in their care.
Lee said: “It is amazing when you think about it that such a large number of animals have passed through our doors during the last two decades.
“I originally only had the figures to 1995 – but after further digging I managed to get the 1994 admissions and they revealed we were so close to hitting the 100,000 mark. Then this week it happened.
“It really is quite staggering to think that so many animals have been cared for at Stapeley and shows the dedication of staff and volunteers at the centre, we can’t save them all obviously and we have to make some very touch decisions but the team works hard to find new ‘forever’ homes for our domestics and exotics and return, where possible, our wild animals back to the wild.
“Stapeley is quite unique in the sense that we have a wildlife centre and also a separate cattery, we also have excellent facilities for education which are used by the local community and schools.
“We have seen so many animals of all shapes, sizes and species pass through our doors over the years – but the reality is no matter what they are we will always do our utmost to provide them with the very best care.”
Stapeley Grange is the former home of Cynthia Zur Nedden, a well-known local land owner who devoted her life to caring for sick animals and strays.
Cynthia was famous for feeding local wild foxes, squirrels and garden birds.
On her death in 1990 Stapeley Grange was bequeathed to the RSPCA to ‘establish an animal home and refuge with a clinic’.
The next fundraising event on Stapeley’s busy calendar is a bat walk on 30 May – which will include a walk around the grounds of Stapeley and a chance to meet some of the resident bat species. Booking is essential so please contact Charlie.pass@rspca.org.uk
Other events include our annual Summer Open Day on Sunday 29 June, a forest sponsored dog walk on 17 August, another bat walk on 25 September, a black tie dinner and dance in October and the annual Christmas Fair on Sunday 30 November.
There is also the chance of VIP tours – to find out more email gill.butler@rspca.org.uk
For more information on any of the above fundraising activities or how to get involved please contact Lee via email at lee.stewart@rspca.org.uk
You can also find out more by visiting www.rspca.org.uk /stapeley
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Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals registered charity no: 219099 Registered office: RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 9RS
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