Phil and his carers provide haven for animals in need (From Salisbury Journal)

Phil and his carers provide haven for animals in need

2:43pm Thursday 11th September 2008 in Rural Focus By Therasa Paul

A THREE-legged deer and a fox with a penchant for hiding watches are just some of the residents at the Wildlife Rescue Care Centre based at West Winterslow near Salisbury.

Phil Groombridge, a former manager at a DIY store, started Wildlife Rescue around 20 years ago.

He and his small band of volunteers dedicate their time to rescuing injured and sick wild animals with a view to re-releasing them. But not all of the animals can be released, such as Misty the three-legged deer who was found hanging upside down from a fence. "We saved one leg, but we couldn't save the other," said Phil.

Two year-old Misty still enjoys going for walks on a lead, though.

Phil said there were 137 rescue centres in England when he started Wildlife Rescue, but now there are only about 70.

"It's all about funding," he said.

The centre receives no lottery or council or government funding. All the money to feed and care for the sick and injured animals comes from donations.

Phil takes one of his feathered or furry charges to give talks to schools, day centres, groups and even children's birthday parties.

He also visits terminally ill children in hospital, and once visited a man who was dying but had said he had always wanted to stroke a barn owl.

"He was stroking it and he died," said Phil.

Wolfie the Fox will soon be going out to visit schools in the new term.

He was found lying beside a road, but now enjoys himself burying things.

"He buried my brand-new watch. I haven't found it yet. He stole my wallet and my phone too," said Phil.

Another school visitor, Madonna the polecat, was caught in a gin trap and can't run.

The centre has lots of birds - some of these are abandoned budgies, finches and cockatiels looking for good homes.

Others are majestic birds of prey found injured.

A large Mexican Harris Hawk called Tia perches on top of a cage surveying the area. "Somebody paid thousands of pounds for her and imported her and then didn't want her," explained Phil. But some of the inmates are on the mend and due for release such as a barn owl and a tawny owl which had a broken wing.

Lady the barn owl, however, is a permanent resident. She was passed to the centre at just a week old.

"Someone didn't want her. She was a runt and was going to be put down," explained Phil.

Phil taught her to fly and she has been with them ever since.

"She doesn't like my wife," confessed Phil, "She chases her." But those which are released, it seems, cannot resist coming back - many of the birds return to visit and other animals take an interest too - in winter there have been pawprints in the snow around the cages.

Apart from the centre, Wildlife Rescue has two emergency ambulances and a wildlife helpline is run by volunteer Jill Carey.

And Phil is often called out at night to injured deer hit by cars.

It really is a 24 hour, seven days a week job for a dedicated man.