SIR: I read the article by Alwyn Graham (BEN September 17) regarding Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital.

I was involved, primarily as a fund raiser for 14 years, (10 of them as a Committee Member) until May 1994, and during that time saw literally hundreds of volunteers come along to offer their services, mainly with the day to day care and management of sick and injured birds.

Some volunteers stayed a day, some a week or two, but mainly they had all had enough by the time a month had elapsed of the autocratic way the Hospital was administered.

The mere fact that the Bird Hospital has been in existence for some 30 years, 17 of them as a Registered Charity and is literally still in "square one" when many of its counterparts, ie "Mrs Tiggiewinkles" and Pets in Need" to name but two, have thrived and gone from strength to strength is worthy of note.

I resigned in May 1994 from the Committee and as a voluntary helper in disgust at the way one "dedicated" helper was treated.

The letter (BEN October 5), from Dorothy and Alison Rigby uses the word "sanctuary" four times.

In the Deed of Trust dated September 10, 1979, the official title of the Charity as set out in paragraph 2 is Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital.

While Mrs Zalasiewicz is an undisputed Founder Trustee, she is not the owner, and should work as all the Committee attempt to do, according to Charity Commission rules.

While it is acknowledged, that some sick and injured wild birds will never be fortunate enough to return to a life in the wild, the welfare of the ones who are destined to remain in care is of paramount importance.

This fact of life is ever present in the minds of the "carers", and some unfortunate birds will have from time to time, to be put down in preference to leading a distressed existence in a cage.

Kathleen Maden

Turton Road, Tottington

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