The British Wildlife Centre in Surrey is celebrating a quarter of a century of being open to the public, at the forefront of conservation.
The centre, in Lingfield, was founded by former dairy farmer David Mills, who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2016.
At 82, Mr Mills, who is Dame Judi Dench’s partner, continues to lead the campaign to get everyone, especially children, to appreciate, respect and protect Britain’s native wild species.
He said England had the “most depleted” wildlife in Europe and the centre wanted to show people the “wonderful wildlife we have in this country”.
“If they at least get interested in it, they might say ‘well that’s worth preserving’,” he said.
The centre is home to a number of native species, including polecats, mink, stoats, weasels, red squirrels, owls, badgers, otters, foxes, harvest mice, deer and Scottish wildcats.
Mr Mills said the “devastating decline” of Britain’s wildlife was partly caused by a lack of spaces for animals to live where they were not in conflict with humans.
He said: “It’s so sad, we need to make space for wildlife. Your garden is very important for wildlife and here at the centre we show you what you can do to encourage it.”
The centre said one in six species was at risk of extinction due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change and pollution.
It opens on weekdays in term times to facilitate school visits “so [the children] develop a life-long interest in protection and survival”.