A wildlife charity on the outskirts of Crowborough which rescues and rehabilitates thousands of injured wild animals each year, has launched a fundraising calendar featuring some of the animals it has helped.
With the support of local businesses, who have each sponsored a month, Folly Wildlife Rescue which is based in Broadwater Forest near Eridge, aims to sell 4,000 of its 2026 calendars to raise £40,000.
As well as including a patient a month and telling that animal’s story, the calendar features some amazing shots by Crowborough photographer, Katie Weller, and illustrations from artist Jennifer Russell. The calendar was launched at a special event for the business sponsors.
Set up in the early 1990s by husband and wife team Annette and Dave Risby, the charity is now led by sisters Liz Chandler and Hannah Hall with a team of workers and more than 250 volunteers.
At the calendar launch Liz said: “This is very much more than a calendar. We treat about 3,500 animals each year and this calendar tells the story of some of them. It shows their journey into here and through rehabilitation.”
When the Risbys first started taking in injured wildlife it was at their home at Folly Cottage in Eridge. As word spread about how they would help wildlife in need of care, more and more people started bringing in patients.
Liz said: “It took over our home, it took over our lives, but it was truly wonderful. All day and all night people would turn up with injured birds, badgers, deer, hedgehogs and more.”
As the wildlife hospital grew and grew, fundraising began for a dedicated wildlife hospital building. Finally the dream became a reality and in 2012 Folly moved into its new home in the Broadwater Forest.
At the calendar launch Hannah took the sponsors through each month and introduced each animal patient that featured. They include a badger, a deer, a baby tawny owl, a dormouse, a rabbit, a hedgehog, and for December (of course) a Robin. Each has Folly to thank for its rescue, rehabilitation and then release.
The stunning photographs in the calendar were taken by Katie Weller, a freelance photographer from Crowborough who runs Chapter Thirty Six Photography. At the launch she was asked how hard it had been to get such amazing shots. She said: “It was sometimes difficult, the robin for instance wasn’t terribly happy about me being in the aviary with him, and it wasn’t easy when the badger was more interested in nibbling my laces! But it was an amazing experience and it has been an absolute pleasure for me.”
The £10 calendars are on sale on the Folly Wildlife website or at the centre itself. They will also be in various shops and cafes in the run up to Christmas. All proceeds will go directly to the charity’s continuing work.
To get your copy either visit the Folly Wildlife Centre or visit: https://fwrt.org.uk/seasonal-calendar/