Bedfordshire Wildlife Rescue was set up by Sam Bedford, who has been involved in animal welfare for many years and runs the charity from a small treatment room based at her home in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.

Sam started her career working in the legal profession both London and Luton, over a period of 6 years whilst she undertook formal training as a Legal Executive. However, a love of animals has always simmered away, so alongside this, in 1994 she also volunteered for the local RSPCA Branch becoming involved in a number of roles which eventually resulted in her leaving the legal profession altogether to work full time for the Branch, as well as embarking upon a BSc in Wildlife Biology and some hands on voluntary work with sick and injured foxes in Northamptonshire.

It became clear, during this time that there were a real lack of resources for wildlife rehabilitation in the Bedfordshire area. Members of the public would be advised to take injured animals to vets and these vets were being left with no choice but to euthanase as no rehabilitative care was locally available. So, in 2002 an approach was made to a number of local vets who all said that they would be glad to have a local wildlife rehabilitation service and Sam then spent the next 18 months researching every veterinary book, manual and article on wildlife care and also received training in the administration of drugs and non-surgical treatments.

In 2004 Bedfordshire Wildlife Rescue was founded and the first patient, a duckling, was referred by a local vet after he had been found in a wheelie bin. Aside from being dehydrated he was unhurt and was eventually released.

Since 2004, this little charity has helped thousands of animals and has become well known for a knowledge of wild bird care. Our small hospital facility is now in dire need of expansion to keep up with demand.