A NEW casualty unit has opened near Chiddingly – but its patients will be of the feathered and furry variety.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) has made the move to Whitesmith, off the A22, after its old casualty care centre at Horsebridge had to close due to rising costs and a lack of space.
The charity is also taking on locum vet S
imon Harris to work part-time to oversee care at the centre. WRAS's casualty care manager Tim McKenzie said, "Simon, who has already helped WRAS with numerous wildlife casualties, will visit our new unit on a regular basis. He will help with the prescription of medication and the assessment of casualties."
The charity's founder, Trevor Weeks, said the opening of the centre marked an 'exciting time' for WRAS. "Although the new unit is not fully up and running and the unit is currently smaller than the old unit, there is the room for potential expansion in the long term."
WRAS needs volunteers to help with feeding and cleaning of casualties, working for about two hours once a week, either in the morning or early evening.
Trevor said, "We had a lot of very good and dedicated volunteers back at Horsebridge who are unable to follow us to the new unit and they will be sadly missed. Luckily a number of our volunteers will continue to help out, but we need more people."
WRAS is appealing for volunteers from Hailsham and surrounding villages, as well as from further afield, such as Lewes, Ringmer and Uckfield. Anyone interested should contact Tim McKenzie on 07969 464052 for more information.
Trevor added WRAS had seen a drop in donations since the turn of the year and admitted the recession had a big part to play.
But a collection in Newhaven earlier this month raised more than £600 and Trevor hoped WRAS would emerge stronger when the credit crunch finally receded.
He said, "WRAS has seen a decrease in donations over the past few months but our collection at Newhaven was a great success.
"We have had to limit what we respond to as a result of our finances, but we are trying to do as much as we can and our volunteer rescuers and carers are donating a lot of their own resources and funds to help keep WRAS ticking along.
"The recession is not going to disappear overnight so WRAS is having to look more long-term at where money is being spent, but the good news is we are managing to tick along now. With the help of our supporters we hope we can eventually expand our services again and be stronger for it."
Donations to the charity can be made at www.wildlifeambulance. org.
