UNDER threat of closure if it did not find new premises, an animal rescue charity based in South Devon has announced it has purchased a plot of land that it plans to develop into its new base of operations.
Rescuing more than 1,000 animals a year, mostly hedgehogs, ELM Wildlife is one of the largest animal rescue centres in the county.
The charity, which came into being in 2018, has been based at Seale Hayne, just outside of Newton Abbot, since 2020, but in the years that followed the rising cost of rent, as well as other factors, including limited internal capacity and lack of external space, prompted the charity to begin looking for new premises, lest the charity close it doors for good.
The search for a suitable new home was, it would be fair to say, not an easy one, with ELM Wildlife’s CEO, Rick Parker, describing the process as ‘long’ and painful’.
But the charity has now secured a plot of land, some 10 or so acres at South Knighton, just down the road from their current premises.
It is, however, just a plot of land, there is as yet no infrastructure to speak of and with only two months left at Seale Hayne, it’s all hands on deck for Rick, wife Jacky and the rest of the team at ELM Wildlife.
‘I hope you will all support us to move ELM into the wildlife rescue centre Devon needs; we now have the space, help us build the infrastructure’ he added.
‘I was hoping we’d find some large-scale funding to help with the build, but unfortunately not having a lease and the lack of skills to apply for funding, has held us back.
‘The plan is to break down the project into small chunks and fund them as we go; I will obviously keep looking for funding pots we can tap into’ Rick said.