The Trent Park Animal Centre needs £40,000 to avoid closing, its appeal says. Its accounts show a £23,724 loss in 2024. Here is how to help, from £4.50 a visit.
The wildlife rescue centre in Trent Park needs to raise £40,000 to avoid closing, according to a fundraising appeal launched this month.
The centre is run by the Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (Enfield), known as WRAS, a registered charity. It takes in sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and unwanted farm animals. It has operated the Trent Park Animal Centre, off Cockfosters Road, since 1985.
The appeal page was set up by a local resident on behalf of the charity. It says WRAS is facing “a severe financial situation”. If the centre has to close, it says, hundreds of animals and birds would need rehoming, and “any that cannot be rehomed may need to be euthanized”.
By this morning the appeal had raised £2,784 from 74 donations.
Why the money is running short
The appeal blames rising costs. It lists:
- rent
- staff costs
- food for the animals
- medication
It says some pens are standing empty because the charity cannot afford to repair them, and that WRAS cannot take in as many animals as need help.
The charity gets no public funding. It relies on what visitors pay and give.
What the accounts show
WRAS files short accounts with the Charity Commission. The most recent full set covers 2024, and it bears out the appeal.
In 2024 the charity took in £177,197 and spent about £200,921. That left a loss of £23,724. Its building society balance fell from £83,732 at the end of 2023 to £60,008 a year later.
Almost three quarters of the income came from people visiting. Admission fees brought in £63,441 and the tea shop £63,732. Donations added £44,903.
The biggest costs in 2024 were:
| Cost | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Wages | £78,187 |
| Animal food, housing and bedding | £32,115 |
| Tea shop stock | £22,217 |
| Cleaning, health and safety, waste | £19,853 |
| Building upkeep | £13,310 |
| Vehicles | £11,180 |
| Vet fees and rescue equipment | £6,904 |
| Rent to Enfield Council | £3,000 |
The chairman’s report with those accounts says footfall was lower in 2024. The charity kept its entry price unchanged to avoid losing more visitors. It says the vet unit and animal hospital are now 25 years old and need ongoing repairs. Its vet gives his time for free.
The charity lost money in three of the last five years, according to the Commission’s figures. The register also shows a better 2025, with income of £218,350 against spending of £199,035. The full 2025 accounts have not yet been filed, so the register does not say how that was achieved. The appeal describes the position now.
Who runs it
The centre has been run since it opened by Barry and June Smitherman. The appeal says both were made MBEs in 2005 for services to wildlife. They work with a vet and a team of helpers. The Commission lists four trustees and 18 volunteers.
What it means for you
Visiting helps, because the gate and the tea shop are the charity’s two biggest sources of money.
The centre’s visitor page gives these details:
- Open: Wednesday to Friday 10am to 3.30pm, weekends 10am to 4pm. Closed Mondays except bank holidays, and Tuesdays except in school holidays.
- Entry: adults £4.50, children aged 3 to 14 £3.50. There are no concessions.
- Getting there: park via the Cockfosters Road entrance to Trent Park, or walk in from Bramley Road, Snakes Lane or The Ridgeway. Oakwood and Cockfosters are the nearest Piccadilly line stations.
- Food donations: arrange a drop-off time with the team first. They go to the back entrance off Snakes Lane.
The centre can close early to deal with wildlife emergencies.
You can give through the appeal page or the charity’s own donation page.
If you find an injured wild animal, WRAS takes calls from 9am to 5pm on 0208 344 2785. Out of hours, it suggests calling the RSPCA or St Tiggywinkles.
Half term is coming up. Our October half term guide lists other things to do across the borough.
Sources: fundraising appeal for the Trent Park Animal Centre, GoFundMe, read 27 September 2026; Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (Enfield), website and visitor information; Charity Commission register, charity 1060452, overview, financial history and 2024 accounts and chairman’s report.
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