Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can make a really big difference.
Recently, one of our wonderful volunteers put a shout-out on local community Facebook groups asking if anyone had an old shed they no longer needed that they might be able to donate to the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.
We were hoping to find a simple solution to help us create a dedicated donation point for fresh fruit and vegetables at the entrance to the Sanctuary. We certainly weren’t expecting quite what happened next!
A very special Thank You to Trudy
Just two hours after the post went live, the lovely Trudy got in touch – and incredibly, she had purchased a brand-new shed for us!
We were completely blown away by her generosity. What started as a simple request for an old, unwanted shed turned into an amazing gift that will make a real difference to our animals and our team.
The new shed will provide a dedicated collection point at the Sanctuary entrance where supporters can leave donations of fruit and vegetables for our rescued animals.
Thank you so much, Trudy, for answering our call for help and for supporting the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. 🧡
Fresh food for rescued animals
Fruit and vegetables are a hugely important part of feeding the animals in our care. Across the Sanctuary, we spend more than £1,400 every month on fruit and vegetables to help provide our animals with the fresh, varied diets they need.
For many of our rescued animals, food is about much more than simply meeting their nutritional needs. Feeding is also an important part of their enrichment and daily routine. Different foods, textures, smells and ways of presenting food can encourage natural behaviours and give our animals opportunities to explore, forage and investigate their surroundings.
That means every donation of suitable fresh produce can help us in more ways than one.
And, as a charity, keeping these essential costs as manageable as possible makes a huge difference.
Could you grow something for our animals?
You don’t need to make a huge donation to make a difference.
If you’d like to support the animals at Wildheart, there are lots of ways you can get involved. You could pick up some suitable fruit or vegetables during your next trip to the supermarket or local shop and bring them along to our new donation point.
Or, if you have a garden, allotment or even a few pots at home, why not grow something for the animals? 🌱
Growing a few extra vegetables can be a wonderful way to support our rescued animals while making use of space you already have. Whether it’s something you’ve grown yourself or fresh produce you’ve picked up locally, every contribution helps us provide for the animals in our care.
Our animals’ diets vary according to their species and individual needs, but across the Sanctuary, vegetables make up around 80% of the fruit and vegetable provision, with fruit making up around 20%.
If you’re planning to grow or donate produce, please check the list below, as not every type of fruit or vegetable is appropriate for every species.
Together, we can make a difference
Trudy’s incredible generosity is a lovely reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to support the animals.
One Facebook post. Two hours. One very generous supporter. And one brand-new shed that will help us collect fresh food for our rescued animals for years to come.
Thank you, Trudy – and thank you to everyone who supports Wildheart in all the different ways you do.
Whether you donate, volunteer, visit, fundraise, grow vegetables, or simply share what we do with your friends and family, you are helping us give rescued animals the care, space and future they deserve.
🧡 #TogetherWeGrow
Want to help feed our animals? Bring suitable fresh fruit and vegetables to our new donation point at the Sanctuary entrance and help us fill Trudy’s wonderful shed!