MP and Councillor Praise our Work
- shetland77
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
We were delighted to welcome Sir Julian Smith MP and Councillor David Staveley, Councillor for Settle and Pen-y-ghent, to the Rescue recently. They were both very supportive of what we do for nature and praised our efforts in securing permanent premises for our vital work.
They were fascinated to hear that, since our formation in 2019, our volunteer-run organisation has rescued, cared for and released back into the wild many thousands of wild animals. Most of the species we help save are endangered or vulnerable species or those facing conservation challenges, such as IUCN Red List British Mammals, red- or amber-listed Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) and European Protected Species (EPS). We recently announced a steep rise in the number of injured and sick wild animals that are coming into our care. In 2025, we took in over 750 animals and birds - nearly double the amount of the previous year.
Sir Julian Smith MP said: “Craven Wildlife Rescue plays a vital role in protecting wildlife across the Dales. Their dedicated team does fantastic work, and it is essential that they can secure permanent premises to continue helping wildlife in need. Cllr David Staveley and I will be working with them and the relevant authorities to help move these discussions forward."
It was recently made public that the premises in which we are based is likely to be put up for sale. The charity has been a tenant of the former Church of England Primary School at Horton in Ribblesdale for over a year, where we have created a professional wildlife hospital for the care and rehabilitation of our patients. The Anglican Diocese of Leeds has recently gained ownership of the school and can sell the site following an application to the Secretary of State. From this base in Craven, Craven Wildlife Rescue now also covers the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape and beyond, including Cumbria, Lancashire and North and West Yorkshire.
Councillor David Staveley added: “It is incredible what Craven Wildlife Rescue has achieved in a short space of time. They have become a major player in wildlife rescue in the North and have a vital role in the protection and conservation of species that are under threat. But all this good work will potentially be lost if permanent premises are not secured. It is now time for the numerous stakeholders and external organisations, who benefit from these good works, to recognise how significant CWR’s contribution is in delivering their own priorities and help provide the financial support they both need and deserve. Without this support this fantastic facility faces an uncertain future, the loss of which would be devastating to the regional wildlife care and preservation map.”
Jane Carpenter, Co-founder, Craven Wildlife Rescue, comments: “It is fantastic to have the support of both Sir Julian Smith and Councillor David Staveley in our quest to secure permanent premises. There is so much we want to achieve and it’s fantastic that they can see the huge potential of the Rescue, both for wildlife and for the community.”
We still do not have any definitive news about the future of our premises. However, we do need all your support in preparing for this next phase. Find out how you can support us by clicking here.
