Pictures and video: Behind the scenes of amazing Shropshire wildlife rescue centre
From the fox cubs left without a mother after she was run over by a car to the hedgehogs that had their habitat destroyed by housing developments, life can be tough for many of Britain's creatures as they face the challenges of the modern world.
More than 2,000 wild animals — from birds of prey to stouts, swans, owls,robins and badgers — were taken to Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre in Much Wenlock by members of the public last year.
The wildlife hospital, which runs as a charity and relies on volunteers includes areas for birds, mammals, food, washing and medical treatment, moved to a 15-acre site on Stretton Road two years ago.
It is run by Sean and Anna Nicholas — but it's not easy.
The couple not only volunteer their time to get animals back to fitness to be released back into the wild, they also hold down full time jobs and tirelessly fundraise to get the £80,000 a year needed to keep the centre open.
It all started 28 years ago when Anna's mother Megan Morris Jones moved to Much Wenlock in 1989 and started to rescue and treat wild animals at their cottage.
Anna, who works as a full-time firefighter for blue watch in Shrewsbury, said: "She started to care for injured hedgehogs or a poorly a little bird and it grew from there.
Some of my earliest memories were helping out. My dad dealt with all the admin and my mother volunteered all of her time to helping the animals. The garage was converted into a treatment centre, we had aviaries and it just got bigger and bigger."
The family later moved into Cuan House, in Much Wenlock, and the rest was history.
The 31-year-old added: " When I grew up and became a firefighter that's when I met Sean and we moved to Ludlow. It was then we made the decision to get involved in the wildlife work and we moved back to Cuan House. It was two years ago that we started to look for a site for the hospital. Mum had some money in savings and we applied to different trusts for grants and did a lot of fundraising. We had a of help and did everything as cheap as we could- and here we are today."
Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre remains the only wildlife centre in Shropshire to offer cover seven days a week and out-of-hours emergency support for injured creatures.
In the summer, it is open between 7am and 10pm and a team of dedicated volunteers help to make everything possible. It is holding an open day tomorrow to allow members of the public the chance to see the good work they do.
It began as the only place to look after and care for wild animals in Shropshire and now the need for its services increases every year.
Anna added: "We've got outside pens, pigs in the woods, two ex-racing horses Corri and Wally and we are still expanding."
Last year more than 500 hedgehogs needed treatment at the site and Anna stressed the importance of the release sites for all of their rehabilitated animals.
"We can't just release them out around here, it's very complicated because you can't overpopulate the ecosystem.
"We have designated sites all over the county and in some cases we do a 'soft release', which means we ease the animals back in more gently.It surprises me every day how adaptable our animals are."
Most of the animals taken into the centre are by members of the public. This week one man took in a baby starling after it flew into his window and knocked itself out. Another woman handed over a baby tawny owl that her dog had caught and took into their garden.
A few of the creatures receiving care at the moment include six unrelated fox cubs, a number of hedgehogs including one that fell into a cattle grid and couldn't get back out, magpies, crows, pigeons, a baby stout, young robins, a dove, a crow, a poorly badger and three little tawny owls.
Anna praised the members of the public for looking after their local wildlife.
She said: "The most unusual bird we've had was a corncrake but we also get animals from all over the country. You have to have a licence to rehabilitate grey squirrels so we've had people bring one down from Liverpool- we've also had a pigeon brought up from London on the train.
"We work to rehabilitate them and not make them tame. In some cases if you see a young tawny owl that has fallen from the nest you can just put it back in the tree and it will climb back up. If you aren't sure what to do just call us. "
Animals at Cuan Rescue must remain untamed in order for them to fit back into the wild so the team never name them.
Sean, who holds down two jobs as a retained firefighter in Much Wenlock and also works for Northwood & Sons Funeral Services, said his priority was to raise the funds to keep going.
He said: "It's important to recognise all of the help that we get. Northwood & Sons are trustees and also Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are so understanding when we have an emergency rescue. The volunteers work so hard and all the people that donate really keep us going."
The couple first employed a staff member in 2000 and while the majority of work is done by volunteers they are able to now also pay for some paid workers during the year.
Among the volunteers who help out are their son Sam Nicholas and Jodie Steel, 24, of Shifnal, who originally volunteered as part of a two-week work placement.
Jodie said: "I came for two weeks and I was so impressed with what went on here so I volunteered to do more- I love helping out."
To donate, find out more about open days or volunteer visit the website on www.cuanwildliferescue.org.uk.
