A NEW animal sanctuary in Billington is asking for volunteers to join its trustee board to help it become a fully-fledged animal care centre.

Hollin Hall Farm in Whalley Old Road is looking for Ribble Valley residents to help keep their project going and help rehabilitate local wildlife – including sheep and hedgehogs.

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Marika Bell, 36, who grew up in Seattle, Washington now lives with husband Oliver, 44, of Whalley, after raising enough money over the summer to set up the sanctuary.

The caring pair aim to save the lives of at-risk farm animals as well as working towards conserving wild habitats. They also plan to foster native wildlife.

And the farm is currently concentrating on the rehabilitation of hedgehogs and releasing them back into the wild.

During August the sanctuary helped rehabilitate seven hedgehogs into the wild and currently have two more waiting to be released next spring.

The former zoologist has three trustees at the sanctuary and is currently in the process of writing the documents which will allow the farm to become a registered charity.

She is also hoping the farm can gain accreditation with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries by 2017.

Mrs Bell said she is looking for animal enthusiasts from the area who can invest time in the charity and would be able to join the board.

She said: “We have some great members, including Irene Ridge from Clitheroe who has a First Class degree from Oxford University in botany.

“We want members like Irene who know the area well and who know what the animals are like in the Ribble Valley.

“It’s a local project for the Ribble Valley community and I want to broaden our capability and help more animals and help develop more habitats which will help them flourish.

“Starting with hedgehogs is a great idea. There are normally some who need more attention than others, especially at this time of year – and no-one really dislikes hedgehogs.

“They are an animal everyone can relate to and almost everyone has come in contact with a hedgehog.

“We don’t want to rush things with the sanctuary, although becoming a registered charity is the next step forward and with this we can begin to help more wildlife and have a real and positive impact in the area.”

For more information about joining the sanctuary, visit hollinhall.farm