Support Simon’s Last Wish (Wildlife Aid’s new sanctuary)

Wildlife Aid (Surrey) is a major wildlife rescue charity that has helped hundreds of thousands of creatures. It was founded by former city broker Simon Cowell MBE (not that one, though he did say his name got restaurant reservations) who sadly died due to aggressive cancer in June 2024.

Need help? If within the catchment area, contact Wildlife Aid with a full description, and ideally send a photo or video via email or app, for them to assess the situation.

Read our post on how to help your local wildlife rescue.

A passionate and outspoken advocate for animal welfare (he did not like ‘TV entertainment shows about animals nor zoos), Simon himself was often attacked, but knew it was only because his patients were scared.

He was bitten by hedgehogs, gored by deer (one antler missed his jugular by around an inch) and one owl sunk his talons into Simon’s scalp.

Shortly before his death (that’s him above with actress Joanna Page, who is training to be a rescuer at the sanctuary), his daughter and others launched a campaign to renovate the wildlife rescue and protect surrounding land.

How to Help Wildlife Aid

The easiest way to help is to set up an account at easyfundraising and set Wildlife Aid as your cause. Then each time you buy something from participating stores (or services), a portion goes to them (at no cost to you, and loyalty points are not affected).

You can donate at Just Giving to reach the target of £4 million. Or select ‘Wildlife Aid Foundation’ at Charities Aid Foundation and tick the box, to donate anonymously. Either way, tick the Gift Aid Box.

The centre (which has over 300 volunteers) also offers placement for vet students. Read latest rescue stories (a fox that fell in a swimming pool, and a hibernating dormouse found at the bottom of a recycling bin).

If you live within a 45-minute drive from Leatherhead and have suitable land, they welcome hedgehog release sites. These must have suitable cover and food, shallow sloping water sources and no chain linked fences (and be unsecure about for hogs to roam up to an acre at night (the size of around 8 average gardens).