Our Life Saver - Carole Connor

Meet Carole, the subject of our next Volunteer interview.

• Tell us a bit about yourself

  I’m from West Yorkshire. I left school at 15, which was the norm then, and went straight to work in the local mills. My Mum worked there and half my neighbourhood. It was a great community, I loved the friendships and support for one another - a bit like being a volunteer at Craven Wildlife Rescue. The team spirit is strong. I have had a variety of jobs from cake decorating, to stringing Slazenger tennis rackets, to supporting the elderly in the community, to working with children in care with Halifax Social Services, and finally working in a Methodist care home. I enjoy helping those in need and being part of a team. I main interest is - and always has been - loving animals, big and small. Especially dogs! I am on my fourth dog and I can't imagine life without one. They give so much back for very little. My other passion is caring for rescued hens. I get them from a hen welfare trust. They come from battery farms and I give them a forever home. It is so rewarding to watch them stretch their wings, roam about free and see them thrive. I feed them every day a salad of bell peppers, cucumber, lettuce and a variety of greens and we get a bonus of some beautiful eggs. Neighbours queue up to buy them!

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• How long have you been involved at the rescue? 

  I started at the Rescue in December 2024.

  
  

• What made you decide to volunteer?

  When I retired, I heard about Craven Wildlife Rescue, so I popped in to meet one of the Founders and see what it was all about. I was totally blown away that, on the day I visited, they were caring for 45 hedgehogs, big and small. Their mission to help these important creatures in our ecosystem is vital. Hedgehogs are on the endangered red list. We must help. I was instantly gripped, signed up to for the induction and never looked back. I just love it. Helping in my own small way. 

  
  

• What do you get from being part of it? 

  Firstly I get a wonderful sense of making a change for good for wildlife, even in the few hours I’m there. I learn so much and it makes me want to learn more and understand the wider impact of wildlife care in the area I live. It has been a personal benefit for me. It keeps my mind alert and my soul happy. It improves my mental health and wellbeing to the point I feel I have a purpose outside my homelife. I also have made new friends and always have a laugh. Being part of a new community is important to me.

  
  

• Why is wildlife important to you? 

  What I want to say instead is 'Why isn’t it important'? Of course it is. Each creature has a role to play for our countryside and our lives. Poorly wildlife are so vulnerable and need human intervention. However, we must continue to educate everyone about the importance of this care. All creatures have a heart, a mind. They also have feelings and they too, like us, need help now and then. We can all look at a bird, a swan, a deer or see a hedgehog and carry on and think nothing about that short moment of meeting them. We don’t stop to think how we have a direct impact on these creatures. Such as strimming verges, mowing a field to the very edge and leaving no room for creatures to roam and live. How would we like if something bigger than us, comes along and pushes our homes to the edge or worse. So we need to stop and think about what the human is doing. So, yes, you can say I’m very passionate about wildlife.

• What is your favourite rescue story? 

  There so many too choose from, but the one that has melted my heart the most is Mrs Kringle the hedgehog - a complete success story. She was so poorly that she was in danger of not making it through the night. She had fly strike, a condition that made her skin have lesions, and she was losing her spines, fast. With medication, hydration, good food and regular baths and mini massages, she started to recover, gain weight and, yes, grew back most of her spines. She was so little and helpless, when she came in, she became my favourite, which is saying something. As every creature that has arrived at Rescue is special. The happy ending for Mrs Kringle (and me!) is that she I getting released to my very own back garden. Wait until she meets my hens!

  
  

• What tips would you like to share with our supporters? 

  Please help, no matter how little. Don’t think 'what can I do, I know nothing about wildlife' - help! Why not make donations at our book stall in Booths supermarket in Settle, or drop of books for the stand?  You could buy an extra or packet of cat food whilst shopping at Field to Home Pet shop in Settle. They drop off the donations directly to us at the Rescue.  Or you could donate items or money online. Donate your used newspapers or perhaps buy something from our Cake 'Ole stand outside the Rescue. It's right next to the start of one of the walks up Pen-y-ghent Peak.  Follow us on Facebook or drop us a message, don’t be afraid to ask any questions. While we are always busy, we will try our best to reply. All support is important as we are trying to meet the demand of the amount of numbers of creatures we are helping.  So there is lots and lots you can do.