Wildwood Trust: Thieves steal money given to save baby dormice in charity smash and grab

* PRESS RELEASE *

Thieves steal money given to save baby dormice in charity smash and grab

Staff and volunteers were heart-broken when thieves smashed their way into the Wildwood discovery park near Canterbury. On Sunday night / early Monday morning they smashed a door, ransacked the shop, forced open tills and stole hundreds of pounds in donations for the baby dormice appeal. Police were called and are investigating the crime and examining CCTV footage taken during the robbery.

Wildwood Trust are appealing to supporters for help to replace this money to ensure the vital conservation work can still go ahead. Wildwood’s dedicated conservation team are the leading experts in breeding dormice for a national reintroduction programme. Wildwood has bred more than 170 dormice and has successfully reintroduced them to woodlands where they have previously become extinct. Watch this video to find out more

Scientific evidence shows the perilous state of Britain’s dormice that, without our help, face almost certain extinction. Despite being one of our most endearing woodland mammals, its desperate plight has alarmed scientists and the situation is getting much worse!

“This vile act of stealing money donated for our vital conservation efforts that was so generously given by our supporters is beyond despicable. We are hoping Wildwood's supporters will rally to our aid and help us continue our conservation work to save the dormouse“ - Sarah Anstee, Wildwood Appeals Officer

Donations to our dormouse appeal can be made by visiting our park or donating online here: https://wildwoodtrust.org/baby-dormouse-rescue

Donate here

CONTACT

Wildwood Trust: +44(0)1227 712 111

Peter Smith: peter@wildwoodtrust.org or 07986 828229

Sarah Anstee: sarah.anstee@wildwoodtrust.org or 01227 711900

Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT6 7LQ

Registered Charity No. 1093702

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Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildwoodtrust

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewildwoodtrust

ABOUT WILDWOOD

Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.