Tiggywinkles

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Tiggywinkles is an animal welfare charity and veterinary hospital in the United Kingdom, also known as St Tiggywinkles and The Wildlife Hospital Trust. It specialises in the rescue and treatment of wild animals. The name derives from the hedgehog character in Beatrix Potter's story The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.

It is based at Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, where it operates an animal hospital and visitor centre, and teaches wild animal practice to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

It was formally constituted in February 1983 by Les Stocker MBE HonAssocRCVS. It is a charity registered in England & Wales as The Wildlife Hospital Trust, and in 2006–7 had an annual expenditure of £1,005,614.

Les Stocker has written a number of books based on the work of the hospital, including a veterinary manual (Practical Wildlife Care, WileyBlackwell, 2nd edition, 2005) and a popular account (Something in a Cardboard Box: Tales from a Wild Life Hospital, Chatto & Windus, 1989).

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.

Beginning in July 2008, Tiggywinkles featured in a 20 part, half hour documentary TV series produced by Two Hand Productions, and shown on Channel Five in the UK – Wild Animal ER – presented by Kate Gerbeau.

It was also featured in the first episode of "Come Outside" called Hedgehogs.

See also

• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

External links

• Tiggywinkles website
• Profile of Les Stocker
• New Scientist: "A hospital for nonhumans"

• THE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL TRUST, Registered Charity no. 286447 at the Charity Commission
• Rolex Awards
• Digiguide