RANGERS LODGE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

Published 1st July 2024
On the rural fringes of St Leonard’s Forest in Colgate sits Rangers Lodge, a unique wildlife hospital.
It is owned and run by Jane and Ross Burrows, who dedicate not only their time but also a large percentage of their home to caring for sick and injured animals. What makes Rangers Lodge unusual is that it is one of the very few places that takes in injured UK wildlife including deer, foxes, hedgehogs, birds, bats, owls, geese and ducks.
Recent arrivals include Marigold, a fawn who was attacked by a dog and brought in by a member of the public. Marigold has formed a close bond with Sweetpea, another fawn who was abandoned when a dog chased its mother. Three Tawny owl babies including Tee (named as he was found on a golf course) are on their way to recovery, while the hospital has also been incubating duck eggs found at Gatwick Airport, where their mother had been found dead. Against all the odds, the first chicks hatched on 8 June.
Jane said: ‘There are many wonderful charities, sanctuaries and organisations that care for domesticated animals such as cats and dogs, but most do not take in wild animals. However, we care for them all here. We see lots of hedgehogs, especially at this time of year when they’re more liable to be injured by hedge trimmers, and deer that are often hit by vehicles. There’s a lot of demand as we’re the only wildlife hospital between Leatherhead and Brighton, so we cover not just the Horsham District but also Crawley and surrounding areas.’
‘Last year, we took in about 400 animals and although hedgehogs are our most common visitor, you never know what will come down the driveway. One lady recently brought in Duchess, a beautiful buzzard that hit her windscreen only a few miles away and was injured. We also looked after a grey heron who was found covered in oil and after a clean and some recovery time, we were able to release him close to where he had been rescued.’

RELEASE ME
The end goal is always to release an animal back into the wild. Over time, Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital has adapted its approach so that human dependency is reduced as each animal nears complete rehabilitation. Soft release pens have been built on the fringes of the forest, where foxes in particular can gain confidence in wild surroundings before being released.
Karen Bowden, Trustee, said: ‘The aim is to always release animals into the wild, as we don’t have permanent residents at Rangers Lodge. Sometimes, an animal cannot be released as they have permanent injuries, so we work in partnership with animal sanctuaries, where they can live their lives with care and support. Sometimes, if an animal is too badly hurt or sick, it’s better for them to be put to sleep. That is always a hard decision, but we have to do what’s right for the animal.’
‘During rehabilitation, we gradually reduce our interactions with an animal. We often hand rear babies, fox cubs for example, but after the weaning stages back away and watch from a distance. We still clean their enclosure, provide food and give them medication, if required, but when they’re ready, we move animals outside where they have more space, then introduce them to soft release zones. Jane says that a tame fox is a dead fox, so it’s essential we keep our interactions down to an absolute minimum, as if they approach humans in the wild, they put themselves in grave danger. It’s difficult, as when they’re cubs you want to coo and cuddle them, but for their long-term prospects, it’s better not to.’
‘Wherever possible, we release an animal close to where it was found, as they may have family there. When that’s not possible, we work with partners who can provide a safe place for wildlife, with an example being a little owl that found a new home thanks to our friends at Warnham Local Nature Reserve.’
FULL HOUSE
Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital is located down a narrow lane that heads into St Leonard’s Forest. The house has been in Ross’ family since 1956, when he was a baby and his father was a forest ranger. The wildlife hospital was established after Ross and Jane inherited the house about 20 years ago. For Jane, it was a natural evolution, having cared for animals all of her life.
Jane said: ‘Even when I was a child, I had a shed full of animals. Friends and neighbours used to bring injured animals to me and I’d nurse them back to health and re-release them into the wild. Once, I was in the middle of an exam and a teacher came to get me as a gerbil had hurt its leg and they needed my help!’
‘Throughout my life, I’ve taken in animals and when we moved to Rangers Lodge, we had the space to establish a wildlife hospital. Gradually, people have found out about us and now our entire home is dominated by animals. Our living room is full of hedgehogs, the utility room has injured birds and foxes, and anyone chatting in the kitchen has to deal with the squawking of parrots! We would eventually like to take some of the space back by building a dedicated hospital outside, but that is a long-term goal.’

FUNDRAISING AIMS
To achieve this, Rangers Lodge has become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that makes it easier to apply for grants. However, grants alone are not enough to cover the cost of food, shelter and medical bills, and the hospital relies on the support of individuals and the generosity of other organisations and businesses, including veterinary practices.
Running the lodge also requires support from a devoted team of about 60 volunteers, including Fundraising Coordinator Lisa Clegg. Lisa said: ‘People come in for one day or evening a week, some help occasionally when they’re able to, while others such as Karen are so committed to animal care that they are here most days and even nights. There is so much to do, whether it’s cleaning cages and enclosures or feeding the animals. All of which requires money, so we’re always grateful when members of the public make a contribution after bringing an animal to us, as well as individuals or businesses who host fundraising events in our aid.’
‘If any local companies can help us by supplying materials for new enclosures, or anyone with architectural skills can offer their expertise to help us draw up plans for a dedicated hospital on the site, we’d love to hear from them too.’
CELEBRITY PATRONS
Rangers Lodge also has the support of radio and TV presenter ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton, the charity’s patron. David took a break from his lunchtime show on Boom Radio to visit the wildlife hospital with wife and fellow patron Dreena.
David said: ‘We’re always amazed by the efforts of Jane, Ross and the volunteers at the lodge. They never have a day off and even when we hosted a fundraising quiz night, Jane wouldn’t take the time off to come as she couldn’t leave the animals, such is her commitment.’
Dreena added: ‘They are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which is incredible. We’re delighted to support them and love coming to Rangers Lodge, as it has a magical aura. Perhaps it’s the location on the edge of St Leonard’s Forest, but I can’t imagine a better place for animals to come and hopefully recover enough to enjoy the freedom of the wild once again.’
WORDS: Ben Morris . PHOTOS: Alan Wright
Further information:
To help, call Jane on 01403 379446 or visit: http://www.rangerslodgewildlifehospital.org/