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 Entrance to the Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital | |
| Named after | Mrs Tiggy-Winkle fromThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1983; 42 years ago (1983) |
| Founder | Les Stocker, Sue Stocker, Colin Stocker |
| Registration no. | 286447 |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Wildliferehabilitation and education Veterinary education |
| Website | www |
Tiggywinkles is a Britishanimal welfare charity and wildlife hospital, also known asSt Tiggywinkles andThe Wildlife Hospital Trust. Tiggywinkles, which specialises in the rescue and treatment ofwild animals, was founded in 1983 as the Wildlife Hospital Trust byLes Stocker as the United Kingdom's first wildlife hospital.[1] The name derives from the titularhedgehog character inBeatrix Potter's storyThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.[2]
It is based atHaddenham, Buckinghamshire, where it operates an animal hospital and visitor centre, and teaches wild animal practice toveterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.[1]
The animal welfare hospital takes its name from the character in the children's storyThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, by English writer and illustratorBeatrix Potter.
In 1978, Les and Sue Stocker and their son Colin started caring for injured wild animals. In the following years, their activities began to attract attention and led to increasing numbers of animals being brought into their home.[3] The Stockers formally registered The Wildlife Hospital Trust as a charity in 1983.[4]
Les Stocker was the recipient of aRolex Award for Enterprise in 1990 for his work at the hospital.[5] In 1991, he was made aMember of the Order of the British Empire for services to wildlife.[6] Les Stocker died on 16 July 2016, after a short illness, aged 73.[7]
In 2018–19, Tiggywinkles had an annual expenditure of £1,618,673.[8]
In 2025, Tiggywinkles 'indefinitely' suspendedRussell Brand as anambassador for the charity, following hissexual harassment charges by theMetropolitan Police.[9] CEO, Colin Stocker, toldThe Mirror:"With the news of the extremely serious charges announced last week, our senior team met and immediately suspended Mr Brand from his ambassador role at Tiggywinkles, indefinitely".[10]
Les Stocker wrote a popular account of his work at the hospital,Something in a Cardboard Box: Tales from a Wildlife Hospital (1989) and a number of books based on the work of the hospital, including a veterinary manual, Practical Wildlife Care (2000).[5]
Beginning in July 2008, Tiggywinkles was the setting forWild Animal ER, a 20-part, half-hour documentary TV series presented byKate Gerbeau, and shown onChannel Five in the UK.[11]
It was also featured in the first episode ofCome Outside called "Hedgehogs".[12]
