It costs £150,000 each year to run Wildlife Aid, and that doesn't take into account, for example, the £80,000 they are currently trying to raise for a new animal hospital. "We launched a 'Buy a Brick' campaign last year which raised £15,000 - a great start," explained Simon. "But our quote for the building work last year was £39,000. Last week it was confirmed at £52,000."

In order to provide as much funding as possible, Simon has his own video
production company, Wild Productions, filming, for example, society weddings, corporate and special events, and music videos, all to broadcast quality. There are five people employed full time on the video side and any number of freelance staff who can be called upon as necessary.

I asked Simon what were his expectations when, in 1980, he started Wildlife Aid. "We lived in blissful ignorance," he laughed. "We had a little shed and a few ointments and medicines, that was all. Our first patient was a seagull which somebody had had in their flat for two or three weeks with a broken wing. They brought it to us because they knew we had a pond in the garden!"

From then on everything just grew. Money came in from various sources - in 1996 the Centre suffered a huge fire which destroyed over one third of the premises which made the national and TV news. Resulting from the exposure people started sending in donations towards the rebuilding costs.

Simon's main worry is that the Centre is still, effectively, in his back garden, large though it may be. It desperately needs its own plot so that, if something happened to him, it could continue. But suitable property in the Leatherhead area would cost an astronomical amount, and it has to be local because it would be almost impossible to train the highly skilled volunteers who offer their time should the move be too far.
We went for a walk round the Centre, visiting the various surgeries seeing tiny creatures being fed from tiny droppers, inquisitive geese, a somewhat belligerent owl which has been with Simon for over fifteen years, a ferret, and the nine badgers housed there. Two of the badgers have overcome their inhibitions and cheerfully come out to be picked up and have their tummies tickled! I felt very privileged to be given the chance to get to know them.

The Centre is open every day of the year, from 9.30 am until 8.30 pm, and outside those hours there is a call-out service although, thankfully, the staff are not summoned too often during the night hours.

Until just two years ago the average donation from the public was £5.00 and, as Simon pointed out, there are an awful lot of £5 in £150,000. Recently, however, the Centre has been the benefactor of one or two legacies, which have made a big difference. He ruefully admits that, although he hates to be the beneficiary of somebody dying, the bequests are like a lifeline to Wildlife Aid. "The sad thing is," he says, "we can never thank the person who left us the money."

Sadly, the advent of the National Lottery cost Wildlife Aid - which has been a registered charity for some fourteen years - along with many other charities, almost two thirds of their income. Instead of putting their money into collecting tins the public were buying Lottery tickets, possibly under the mistaken belief that their money would find its way to the organisations they had supported previously. As many will know from recent publicity, this is not the case. Lottery funds, they have been advised, are not distributed to support wildlife charities.

Considering this, the fact that the Centre has several treatment rooms, two operating theatres, a pathology lab, and an intensive care room, is a remarkable tribute to Simon and his staff.

Anyone who has time available and would like to help Wildlife Aid should ring 01372 377332. If you are unfortunate enough to need assistance for an injured wild animal ring 09061 800132 and you will be advised what steps to take.