Hessilhead cares for Scotland's injured and orphaned wildlife

The centre is situated near Beith in North Ayrshire.

It occupies a 20 acre site, including woodland, marsh and open water. This gives a variety of release sites for our patients.

Facilities at the Centre include an intensive care unit, a swan/seal hospital with indoor pool, a hedgehog unit, a surgery with x-ray equipment and more than 60 outdoor aviaries, enclosures and release pens.

The centre operates a 24 hour emergency service.

Hessilhead is not generally open to the public. This is because our patients are wild, and wild birds and animals are usually frightened of people. Regular disturbance would upset the patients, hamper their recovery, or result in hand reared youngsters becoming tame.

Hessilhead holds one Open Day a year. This is the second Sunday in June, from 12 noon till 4pm. On this day we aim to show the work of the centre, and guided tours round some of the aviaries, enclosures and hospital will allow  visitors to see some of the youngsters being hand reared. Please don't ask to be shown round at other times.

Last modified: 03/10/08