24/05/2026
A request from the Greenwich Wildlife Network.
Please donate if you can. GWN do so much for our community and wildlife. It would be tragic if they had to close 😢
IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE GREENWICH WILDLIFE NETWORK: PLEASE READ
Dear GWN Community,
For several weeks now, I have been carrying news that has filled me with fear and anxiety.
The Greenwich Wildlife Network will soon be without premises. Our current landlords have chosen not to renew our lease.
We have no fixed timeframe to leave, but if we don’t secure alternative premises urgently, I am not exaggerating when I say the charity may simply not survive.
Although small, our current industrial unit is used to house a large number of animals undergoing rehabilitation, cared for by volunteers until the point of release or transfer.
Even with this space, we can barely keep up with the demand for our help, which more than doubles year on year.
Already, we are constantly on the verge of being full. We urgently need to build new aviaries, and we currently transfer 15 -20% of animals to other rescue organisations simply so we can continue functioning and offer a solution to all.
With no premises at all, our options would be horribly limited; either scale back operations enormously, turning away a huge number of animals in need of help, or close for good.
So I cannot overstate the gravity of the situation we’re facing. We need to move urgently.
Since receiving this news, we’ve been in crisis mode, with the trustees scouring listings of commercial properties to let. After many false starts and frustrations, we have finally found an alternative space.
We had hoped for a ‘forever home’ - a significant upgrade on what we have now that would negate the need for future expansion - but this is London, where space is scarce and extortionately expensive. Instead, we have found a unit similar to our current one, offering only a modest increase in size and facilities, but at almost double our existing costs: an additional £11,000 per year in rent and utilities alone
That is before the enormous cost of adapting and refurbishing the space to make it suitable for the care and rehabilitation of animals.
Altogether, we estimate we will need to raise at least £20,000 to make this move possible.
We are a financially stable charity, with funds carefully managed by our trustees and reserves set aside for a rainy day such as this. We have never missed a payment or failed to pay a bill.
But to suddenly double our rent in a single year? There is no getting away from it - that is a risk. Especially given our charity is just four years old, and constantly struggling to cope with an ever-growing workload in a complex field.
Add to this the enormous strain of renovating the space and relocating animals, equipment and caging during our busiest season, when volunteer burnout is already a yearly guarantee, and we are walking a tightrope.
So today, we are launching an urgent fundraising appeal for the survival of the Greenwich Wildlife Network.
If you value the role we have come to provide within the communities of Greenwich and Bexley, if you want this area to continue having a dedicated wildlife rescue service, then please consider donating.
The past few weeks have been really scary. Now we have a space lined up at last, these fears have eased somewhat - but these are still huge challenges we are facing.
We already know that, for many injured wild animals in South East London, we are often the only option available. It is the entire reason I founded this charity: to provide a safety net that did not exist before.
So what happens to those animals if that safety net disappears?
Despite the enormous physical, emotional and mental toll this work has taken over the years, my belief in why this charity exists remains solid - bruised, battered and exhausted perhaps, but still standing.
We are here to protect the vulnerable, speak up for those with no voice, and serve the community.
If you believe in us too, please help us overcome this crisis.
Please donate, even if it’s just a pound or two.
Please share this appeal.
And if you know of any potentially suitable properties that could become our forever home - rather than another stopgap - please get in touch.
With love and hope,
The GWN Team
We have set up a fundraising page just for the new premises. Please donate HERE:
Help The Greenwich Wildlife Network reach their goal by donating or sharing with your friends.
