Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue is a charity based in North Ayrshire, Scotland, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Their patients come from far and wide; some examples include a bat rescued in Tain last year, and three house martins rescued in London. Their devoted team is kept extremely busy! Founded over 40 years ago by Andy and Gay Christie, Hessilhead became a registered charity in 1986. What began as a hobby in their spare time, soon developed into a deep-rooted passion, ultimately evolving into the essential service the centre provides today. Over the years, the centre has grown into a fully equipped facility with a mission to care for wildlife in need, supporting everything from common garden birds to seals.
In early 2025, Ellie Hunter was appointed Executive Manager, taking responsibility for the leadership, management and operational direction of the centre. Ellie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse with 10 years’ experience in the veterinary industry and has brought her clinical knowledge and high standards of care to Hessilhead. Ellie has worked closely with the trustees and wider team to help the centre move forward with greater structure and consistency.
An integral member of the Hessilhead team is Rachel Hall, their Lead Wildlife Care Co-ordinator. Rachel holds a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology and an MSc with Distinction in Animal Welfare, Science, Ethics and Law. She leads the rehabilitation team with exceptional dedication and compassion and plays a crucial role in overseeing patient care, mentoring staff, and ensuring the highest standards of welfare are maintained. Together, Ellie and Rachel’s combined expertise ensures the centre runs effectively, supported by a skilled and hardworking team of eight wildlife rehabilitators.
Ellie explains how Brinsea TLC units support their work:
‘Our work depends heavily on intensive care units such as TLC machines, which play a vital role in stabilising and supporting animals throughout their recovery. This is particularly crucial during the busy spring and summer months, when hundreds of young animals are admitted. At our peak last year, we received 100 admissions in a single day and cared for as many as 320 animals on site at one time.
Brinsea’s TLC units allow us to maintain precise temperature and humidity control, which is essential for these delicate patients. These units are a huge support to the team, providing peace of mind that each animal is receiving consistent, high-quality care. We have used the machines to care for a range of wildlife, from tiny hoglets to young fox cubs, ensuring they have a warm, stable environment in which to rest and regain strength.
On numerous occasions, we have had to accommodate multiple small patients within a single machine due to high intake numbers, and the TLC units have proven ideal for this flexible approach. One of the key features that benefits our work is how easy the units are to clean and disinfect. Wildlife can carry a range of diseases, making robust biosecurity measures essential to prevent cross-contamination between patients and to protect both the animals and our team.
Maintaining a clean environment is therefore critical. The units can be fully dismantled and thoroughly disinfected between uses, which is a significant advantage over other incubator models. Their reliability, ease of maintenance, and ability to support a wide variety of species make them perfectly suited to the diverse and demanding work we do at Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue.’
Ellie Hunter, Executive Manager
Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, Scotland
