SOLAR POWER FOR OUR WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

Aim

Help power our wildlife hospital and reduce our environmental impact

ABOUT OUR WORK

For over 50 years, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital has been a trusted leader in wildlife casualty care and education. We play a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by injured and displaced wildlife, working alongside local vets, RSPCA inspectors, Wildlife Police Officers, and the public to provide expert care and rehabilitation. Our ultimate goal is to release healthy animals back into their natural habitats while also tackling the root causes of wildlife casualties. 

Beyond direct care, we actively contribute to research, education, and public awareness, promoting responsible conservation practices. By treating wildlife in need and engaging in broader conservation efforts, we support the UK’s commitment to protecting its precious countryside and biodiversity.

OUR SOLAR STORY

As energy prices rise across the country, our wildlife hospital in Sidlesham wants to invest even further in solar panels and other sustainable energy sources to continue to decrease our outgoings and improve our environmental footprint.

In 2024 we installed 51 solar panels on the rooftops of two of our buildings. We have substantial savings on electricity bills during what has been a challenging year for fundraising for our charity. The savings mean the charity can continue its vital work rehabilitating sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. 

In addition to the new solar panel installation on our wildlife hospital we also have a purpose built patient admissions building which has been built with conserving the environment in mind. It has a green roof, heat sourced water pump and responsibly sourced local timber.

The hospital cares for around 3,000 animals annually, aiming to release them back into their natural habitats. It treats small birds like robins, as well as owls and swans, alongside mammals such as hedgehogs, foxes, and deer. In 2024 alone, Brent Lodge treated 79 species of birds and 23 species of mammals.

THE IMPACT

Energy costs at the hospital are significant, with equipment such as patient incubators and x-ray machines consuming large amounts of electricity. By switching to solar, we’ve been able to redirect savings of around £3,000 to date from energy costs back into our core mission: providing lifesaving care for wildlife. It’s a win-win, helping us reduce our environmental impact while ensuring the hospital runs efficiently throughout the year.

The environmental benefits are equally important to the charity. By our very nature, we’re a non-profit organisation. We’re here to give back to our cause, which is wildlife, and we care about wildlife and the environment equally, especially as we’re releasing wildlife into the environment.

Fundraising is becoming more challenging, with fewer legacy donations each year and rising costs in retail for its charity shops. But the work at Brent Lodge never stops, and the lights need to stay on. Renewable energy has become a key part of the hospital’s strategy.

HELP US TO HELP WILDLIFE

As a charity, giving back to our wildlife and our environment by investing in energy from sustainable sources was high on our agenda. In the future, the charity hopes to fundraise for storage batteries, which would allow excess energy from the solar panels to be stored for use overnight or on overcast days. Whilst the cost of the solar panels is a big investment they are expected to pay for itself over time. We are looking for contributions towards purchasing solar batteries and maintaining our wildlife hospital, so we can continue in our mission to become sustainable and help wildlife in need.

Our project also strengthens resilience to climate change by reducing emissions and ensuring reliable renewable energy. By installing solar storage batteries, we can store surplus energy generated during the day for use overnight or during cloudy periods, ensuring our wildlife hospital runs sustainably despite increasingly unpredictable weather. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers our carbon footprint. It also safeguards continuous care for wildlife impacted by habitat loss and extreme weather, both worsened by climate change. By protecting habitats where rehabilitated animals are released and leading by example, we’re helping both wildlife and our community adapt to a changing climate while contributing to a healthier environment.

We are grateful for your support!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made