Broken Things
“Let me tell you a story of never-ending love. Love procured by hoof and blood.
“Of young men crying over naked sparrow squabs, of crows and gulls and weasel and fox.
“A jigsaw of folk from all corners of our land, cradling wild orphans in the human hand.
“Here is a tale of a nation in love…”
An excerpt from Broken Things, Poems from Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue, by Dr Sasha Norris.
I had the pleasure of spending time with Dr Sasha Norris today. It wasn’t how I’d planned to learn about the important work that Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue do; I was delivering a Magpie into her care.
Having witnessed the bird’s failed attempts over a couple of days to reach my bird feeders, sustaining itself on the scraps other birds dropped, and seeing it was having difficulty standing on one foot, I decided it needed help. It was easy to catch, and I’d certainly rescued it from an early demise by my ‘supposedly non-prey-driven’ Cavachon, who was becoming obsessed with seeking it out in my garden. Once it was cradled in my arms, its will for life beat strongly in my hands from within its scrawny, malnourished body.
Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue is nestled in a quiet stretch of the Hereford countryside, just above Bodenham Lake. Set in 30 acres of wild organic woodland and gardens, the rescue is also Sasha’s home.
Founded by Dr Sasha Norris, Zoologist, in 2008, it is now co-run by Sasha and local business co-owner and expert rehabilitator, Jacqui Mayne. Funding a considerable part of the project themselves, both financially as well as by giving their own time, they are supported by a whole raft of talented and dedicated volunteers and donors who make the project possible.
I jumped at the chance when Sasha offered to show me round. Listening to Sasha as we made our way around the wilderness she calls home, I had a feeling of overwhelming admiration. Sasha’s love for wildlife is clear in bucket-loads! She is passionate about providing the best possible chance of returning to the wild, whether large, small, feathered or furred.
Treatment and care are tailored specifically to each animal in her care. I watched, fascinated, whilst Sasha encouraged a bat to take liquid from a larvae, intermittently offering a drop of nourishing milk to its eager tongue. A tiny baby, the bat had to be fed using tweezers; a delicate job of precision that took time and patience.
In an outdoor pen, a hedgehog ran towards us as soon as we approached; not the normal behaviour expected in daylight. Having suffered a head injury from a trap, it was suspected to be blind, so had learnt to respond to noise for its protection and care, rapidly pursued by its offspring that had been born at the rescue.
Another pen revealed a group of fox cubs, all with stories to tell, and from different traumatic rescue events.
Birds of prey gratefully awaited food, unaware of the second chance they’d been blessed with. A swan sauntered by, looking suspiciously at the stranger amidst its wild haven. We passed gulls who’d been declared in a state of emergency in Herefordshire’s unforgiving sweltering heat; afforded a chance at life and time to recuperate. A rook, and a family of polecats, the little ones eagerly climbing the pen at the prospect of food. Another magpie and more hedgehogs, who’d lost their mum.
A fox who had lost an eye, its demeanour too familiar with humans, so would likely need to stay, but would be afforded sanctuary lest it would likely die.
What struck me was not only the compassion and love that Sasha emanates, but the considerable time she affords to every animal in her care, whether day or night.
The rescue relies solely on public donations, at times Sasha and Jacqui’s own pocket, and food and veterinary care gifted by kind-hearted organisations.
We sat and talked for ages. My love for children’s book writing and Sasha’s love for poetry writing. We swapped books over a cuppa, and I left armed with a box of Sasha’s beautiful book Broken Things, Poems from Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue.
Reading Sasha’s book later at home, I cried, I smiled, and I warmly remembered the amazing lady I had the pleasure of spending time with today, amidst the myriad of fortunate wildlife that happen upon her doorstep.
Sasha’s book of poetry can be found at my events for a suggested donation of £15, but all donations are welcome and gratefully received by the rescue.
