Our patrons

Chris Packham CBE

Chris is an English naturalist, nature photographer, television presenter and author, best known for his television work including the CBBC children’s nature series The Really Wild Show from 1986 to 1995. He has also presented the BBC nature series Springwatch, including Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, since 2009.

“Secret World is caring for British wildlife in an amazing way. They are wonderful people, doing incredible things.”

Michaela Strachan

Michaela is one of TV’s best loved wildlife presenters. She has a huge amount of enthusiasm and compassion for animals. Michaela is probably best known for presenting wildlife programmes, including The Really Wild Show, Elephant Diaries, Animal Rescue Squad, Countryfile, Springwatch, and Winterwatch.

“I’ve filmed at Secret World many times over the years and have always admired Pauline and her team. The work Secret World does in rescuing, rehabilitating, educating and campaigning, is completely amazing and it is a place which will always have my support and I’m honoured to be a patron.”

Simon King OBE

Simon is a British naturalist, author, conservationist, television presenter and cameraman, specialising in nature documentaries. He received an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 2011, and has been working in the field of natural history film making for over 30 years.

“Secret World Wildlife Rescue represents the rare mix of a pragmatic, common sense approach to the care of wild creatures coupled with ethics and morality. Any wild creatures that have had the misfortune to need a helping hand are conversely very fortunate if that hand is extended by Secret World.”

Martin Hughes-Games

Martin is a British zoologist, natural history program producer, and presenter. He is best known for co-presenting the BBC magazine-style nature series Springwatch as well as its spin-offs, Winterwatch, Autumnwatch, and Springwatch Unsprung.

Chris Sperring MBE

Chris is a professional wildlife conservationist working for Hawk and Owl Trust. He also presents and broadcasts on TV and radio, lectures on a wide range of subjects, is a wildlife photographer, and writes articles for magazines and newspapers.

Lloyd & Rose Buck

Lloyd has been training birds for more than two decades. Over the years he and his wife Rose have been involved with over a hundred different film and television productions. They have a team of birds specially trained for filming both on location and in studio situations. They also regularly train new birds for specific projects. Lloyd and Rose are the world’s experts at in-flight and tracking filming with birds.

“I felt very honoured when Pauline asked me to become a patron for Secret World, as I know the huge effort that Pauline and the team of staff and volunteers put in on a daily basis, all year round, which is hugely successful at giving many species of birds and animals the chance to make it back to the wild.”

Jilly Cooper CBE

Jilly is a journalist, animal lover, and author of many number one bestselling novels. She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of Gloucestershire and Anglia Ruskin and appointed CBE in 2018 for services to literature and charity.

“Secret World is an utterly magic world which rescues and transforms the lives of so many of our wild creatures. It is also run by the most dedicated people, and we must do everything we can to support and extend the work of this wonderful charity at a time when we are increasingly realising how important our wildlife is to us as a nation.”

Anthony Head & Sarah Fisher

Anthony is well known for his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in Merlin. Animal welfare is a cause close to his heart and he lends his support to many animal welfare organisations, running Tilley Farm with his partner Sarah Fisher.

Sarah is well known for her important work in animal therapy; she helps animals overcome a variety of health and behavioural issues in a kind and respectful way and runs the UK TouchTeam and TTouch centre near Bath. The site is also home to Tilley Farm, a 90-acre sanctuary for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys and home to Animal Centred Education.

“As patron to Secret World I have been able to see how hard all the members of the staff and volunteers work to save every kind of wildlife casualty  – right down to a tiny baby bat. Please support them in any way that you can – help save a life!”

Desmond Morris

Desmond is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology. He is known for his 1967 book The Naked Ape, and for his television programmes such as Zoo Time.

Rhianna Pratchett

Rhianna is an award-winning video game writer and journalist. Daughter of the late fantasy writer and friend of Secret World Wildlife Rescue Terry Pratchett, she continues his work supporting animal charities through The Discworld Foundation.

“As we continue to encroach on the natural world we must look to the likes of The Secret World to preserve and protect it for generations to come. Their dedication to maintaining the beauty and diversity of the world around us is as impressive as it is essential. They are true guardians of nature.”

Valerie Singleton OBE

Valerie is an English television and radio presenter best known as a presenter of the popular children’s series Blue Peter. She also presented the BBC Radio 4 PM programme for ten years as well as a series of radio and television programmes on financial and business issues.

“I have been a patron of Secret World Wildlife Rescue for many years and have enjoyed visiting and seeing how much the charity has progressed. It has retained its ethics of best care and every single animal is important to them.”

Mike Dilger

Mike Dilger is an English ecologist, ornithologist, television presenter, and the wildlife reporter on the BBC television programme The One Show, where he is known as ‘their answer to Dr. Doolittle’.

“For the last 30 years this fabulous charity has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of animals needing help as a result of man’s, often inadvertent, actions. I therefore encourage anyone who has ever had fun fox spotting, derived a buzz from badger watching or simply taken delight from the discovery of a deer to support Secret World’s work to redress this imbalance and ensure as many animals as possible are given the second chance they so desperately deserve.”

Hannah Stitfall

Hannah is an accomplished zoologist, presenter and wildlife filmmaker with a love for creative natural history storytelling. She specialises in investigating the illegal wildlife trade on social media and has conducted extensive study into the subject.

She currently presents for BBC Earth online and is also part of BBC Springwatch digital team, and believes in creating innovative, content to reach out to new audiences

“Secret World is much more than a wildlife rehab centre, it is absolutely vital. The care and support given to every single animal that comes through their doors to ensure they live their lives the way they should is outstanding. I’m thrilled to become a patron for such an admirable charity especially in a time when our British wildlife needs all the help it can get.”