President Margaret Potter opened the meeting by welcoming our members and four members from Toddington WI. She also welcomed Martin Brooks and Caroline Gould our speakers for the evening from the Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre Benita received a gift for acquiring 100 points for entering the monthly competition Denman House are standardising all the bedrooms ready for weddings and B&B which means the lovely quilts and bedspreads that were made by members of WIs have been removed and sent back to WI county Houses. This has been very disappointing for those members who put such a lot of hard work into making them and President Margaret will be writing to Denman.

It has been decided, after votes were counted, the August meeting will be a combined BBQ/American supper and will take place in Lou’s garden weather permitting. Details of arrangements will be decided at a later date Martin Brooks from Vale Wildlife Hospital gave us a very interesting insight into all the work they do at the Centre. It all began way back in 1984 in Caroline Gould’s back garden in Cropthorne. In 1990 they became a registered charity and as the hospital grew and more space was needed they obtained planning permission in 1999 and were able to move to new purpose built premises in Beckford. After much fundraising the building was completed in 2001. The Lilian Andrews Trust in Evesham gave £30,000 to provide a new Hog Unit to house 240 hedgehogs. 6,500 casualties are treated every year and it costs £40,000 a month to care for them. Marguerite gave a well deserved vote of thanks for a very interesting and informative talk.

After our usual delicious supper the competition was judged and the winner was Annette with an unusual pretty painting of an elephant from Sri Lanka.

For further information including fund raising events please contact June Lloyd on 01386 830844 or view our website on www.littletonswi.moonfruit.com Under government guidelines there will be no meetings in April or May. June will be decided at a later date.