Folly Wildlife Rescue
Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust is a UK charity operating a dedicated wildlife hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, providing free rescue, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for native wildlife across West Kent and East Sussex 365 days a year, funded by donations and supported by volunteers and celebrity patrons.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersTunbridge Wells, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Folly Wildlife Rescue does
Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust is a UK-registered charity that operates a dedicated wildlife hospital in Broadwater Forest, Tunbridge Wells, serving West Kent, East Sussex, and the surrounding region. The organization admits sick, injured, orphaned, and distressed native wildlife — including birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, rodents, amphibians, foxes, and deer — 365 days per year, providing specialist veterinary treatment and rehabilitation until release. Its core service is delivered free of charge to members of the public who find injured animals and contact the charity by phone, with a volunteer wildlife collection service supporting admissions logistics. Supplemented offerings include paid Behind the Scenes Tours of the hospital, an out-of-hours emergency advice line, public education resources, and a multi-track volunteer program spanning wildlife care, fundraising, land maintenance, and reception.
Founded in 1993 by Annette and Dave Risley from their home at Folly Cottage, the charity has grown into a professional wildlife hospital over more than three decades. Following the deaths of both founders in 2021 and 2023, ownership and operations transitioned to their two daughters, who continue the founders' legacy under guidance from the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA). Revenue is generated primarily through voluntary public donations, with secondary income from paid educational tours and patron-driven awareness support; high-profile patrons include Johnny Depp, Dave Davies, Jilly Goolden, and Sandra Beck. The organization's technology base is a conventional website (hosted via Bells IT Support) plus organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X), with no proprietary software, app, or AI component.
The organization's current scale is small — 15 employees — and operations are geographically bounded to southeast England, with an APHA-imposed restriction on admitting gulls and seabirds. Strategic positioning rests on being the only dedicated wildlife hospital in its catchment area, sustained community recognition, and a deep volunteer base, rather than on differentiated technology, pricing, or capital structure.
Folly Wildlife Rescue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Folly Wildlife Rescue
- Legal name
- Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust
- Website
- https://follywildliferescue.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust is a UK charity operating a dedicated wildlife hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, providing free rescue, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for native wildlife across West Kent and East Sussex 365 days a year, funded by donations and supported by volunteers and celebrity patrons.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Folly Wildlife Rescue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Veterinary Services (54194)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
Keywords
Where Folly Wildlife Rescue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tunbridge Wells
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Folly Wildlife Rescue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: The charity relies on public donations to fund its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations. The website prominently features a 'Donate now' call-to-action, indicating donations are a primary revenue source.
- Behind the Scenes Tours: Folly Wildlife Rescue offers behind-the-scenes tours as a paid experience, providing an additional revenue stream while also raising awareness about wildlife rehabilitation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Folly Wildlife Rescue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust operates a dedicated wildlife hospital providing 365-day admission, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife, including birds, hedgehogs, badgers, foxes, deer, rabbits, rodents, and amphibians, serving West Kent and East Sussex. The charity supplements its core rescue work with paid Behind the Scenes Tours, multiple volunteer programs, and an out-of-hours emergency advice service, all funded primarily through public donations.
Product overview
Folly Wildlife Rescue is a single-service wildlife charity offering rescue and rehabilitation of native wildlife species (birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, rodents, amphibians, foxes, deer, and more) at its wildlife hospital in Broadwater Forest. The organization operates as a unified service rather than a platform architecture, supplemented by educational Behind the Scenes Tours, multiple Volunteer Programs (student volunteers, wildlife care, general duties, fundraising, land army, collection drivers, reception), and an Out of Hours Advice Service. All services are provided free of charge to the public.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Services Core wildlife hospital service providing rescue, admission, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife including birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, rodents, amphibians, foxes, and deer. Open for admissions 365 days per year and provided free of charge to members of the public in West Kent and East Sussex.
- Behind the Scenes Tours Paid educational tours of the wildlife hospital and facilities, available for booking through the fundraising platform, providing supporters with a guided look at the charity's rescue operations.
- Out of Hours Advice Service Guidance and advice service for wildlife emergencies outside standard operating hours, including FAQ resources, supporting the public when they find injured or distressed wildlife at night or on weekends.
Quantifiable outcome
- Thousands of animals admitted and rehabilitated per year
Companies that use Folly Wildlife Rescue
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Folly Wildlife Rescue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Folly Wildlife Rescue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Dave Davies (Patron)minorDave Davies, legendary lead guitarist and co-founder of The Kinks, became a patron in July 2024 after visiting the wildlife hospital to meet the team and see the site. He provides celebrity endorsement and support to the charity.
- Sandra Beck (Patron)minorSandra Beck, united in her love for wildlife with late husband Jeff Beck, has been incredibly supportive and involved with Folly Wildlife Rescue's work. Her kindness and compassion for wildlife shines through in her ongoing support.
- Johnny Depp (Patron)minorJohnny Depp became a patron of Folly Wildlife Rescue in May 2022 after visiting the wildlife hospital through his close friendship with the late Jeff Beck. He visited to see the Trust's work with wildlife and agreed to become a patron.
- Jilly Goolden (Patron)minorJilly Goolden first connected with Folly Wildlife Rescue in 2004 when the charity assisted with a fallow deer she rescued on Ashdown Forest. She also volunteers during busy seasons and provides support and visibility for the charity.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Folly Wildlife Rescue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- The Fox Project: A Kent-based wildlife charity specializing in fox rescue and rehabilitation. Geographically overlapping with Folly's catchment area and providing overlapping wildlife services, creating potential local competition.
Regional players
- Kent Wildlife Trust: The county wildlife trust for Kent, focused on conservation, reserves, and wildlife education. Geographically overlapping with Folly's catchment area and a potential partner for wildlife welfare initiatives.
- Sussex Wildlife Trust: A regional conservation charity covering Sussex with broader wildlife conservation, education, and habitat management focus. Comparable in serving overlapping geography though pursuing broader conservation mission rather than direct rescue.
Direct peers
- Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue: A Scotland-based wildlife rescue charity with a hospital facility caring for sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. Comparable operating model with hospital-based wildlife care and volunteer support.
- Secret World Wildlife Rescue: A Somerset-based wildlife rescue charity that operates an admissions service, rehabilitation facilities, and education programs for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Highly comparable regional wildlife hospital model.
- Wildlife Aid Foundation: A Surrey-based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity operating a 24-hour emergency service, hospital, and education programs. Direct comparable in service model, geographic proximity to Southeast England, and television/media exposure.
- Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital: A West Sussex-based wildlife hospital providing veterinary care and rehabilitation for native wildlife. Geographically adjacent to Folly's catchment area and operationally similar as a regional wildlife hospital.
- Vale Wildlife Hospital: A Gloucestershire-based wildlife hospital providing treatment and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wild animals. Comparable in being a dedicated wildlife hospital with veterinary staff and volunteer programs.
- Tiggywinkles: A dedicated wildlife hospital in Buckinghamshire that provides rescue, rehabilitation, and veterinary care for native British wildlife. Directly comparable operating model with hospital-based wildlife care and volunteer-driven admissions.
Broad incumbents
- RSPCA: The UK's largest animal welfare charity, operating animal hospitals and rescue services nationwide. While RSPCA covers companion animals more broadly, it represents the scale benchmark and policy environment for wildlife rescue in the UK.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Folly Wildlife Rescue social profiles
Digital presenceFolly Wildlife Rescue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Folly Wildlife Rescue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Folly Wildlife Rescue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Folly Wildlife Rescue M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Folly Wildlife Rescue
What does Folly Wildlife Rescue do?
Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust operates a dedicated wildlife hospital providing 365-day admission, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife, including birds, hedgehogs, badgers, foxes, deer, rabbits, rodents, and amphibians, serving West Kent and East Sussex. The charity supplements its core rescue work with paid Behind the Scenes Tours, multiple volunteer programs, and an out-of-hours emergency advice service, all funded primarily through public donations.
Is Folly Wildlife Rescue a public or private company?
Folly Wildlife Rescue is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Folly Wildlife Rescue founded?
Folly Wildlife Rescue was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Folly Wildlife Rescue based?
Folly Wildlife Rescue is headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Folly Wildlife Rescue make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are behind the Scenes Tours.
Who are Folly Wildlife Rescue's main competitors?
The Fox Project is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Kent Wildlife Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust. Direct peers are Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, Secret World Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Aid Foundation, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, Vale Wildlife Hospital and Tiggywinkles. RSPCA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Folly Wildlife Rescue have an API?
No public API is recorded for Folly Wildlife Rescue.
What industry is Folly Wildlife Rescue in?
Folly Wildlife Rescue's product category is Wildlife Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAD, Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid. Its NAICS code is 54194 and its SIC code is 8300.