Little Nest Rescue and their alpacas (Hannah Whiting, 2025)

An animal rescue centre in Cadishead has been granted charity status.

Little Nest Rescue, which is located at Brackley Farm, applied to become a charity in May.

They house an array of animals, with 15 alpacas, 14 horses, 10 cats, 2 hens and a tortoise calling the Cadishead site home.

They have rehomed “hundreds” of animals, including ducks, rabbits, goats, and sheep since 2018.

The Salford animal rescue centre said in an announcement post that the change in status will “help us reach more people, care for more animals, and continue creating a space that changes lives.”

Vicki, co-owner of Little Nest Rescue, said the change “opens up more opportunities” for funding.

She said: “Before, you’d make an application, and the most you’d get is about £500-£600 – that’s not even a weeks worth.”

Katy, founder of Little Nest Rescue, had previously funded the centre by “doing dog walks, and mucking out horses elsewhere.”

Rigmaroll, a baby alpaca (Hannah Whiting, 2025)
Rigmaroll, a baby alpaca (Hannah Whiting, 2025)

Over winter, the bills are over £4000 a month.

Vicki said: ” Katy’s been doing this for such a long time, and now by being a charity, we can employ her, and we’ve then got more security funding wise.”

The centre also said that the change to charity status would mean “more people are interested.”

They receive lots of donations through their Facebook page, where they share the backstories of the rescued animals.

One horse, Fergus, had been rescued from a “meat-man” in France.

Katy said: “He was a ex-racehorse, and he was only two.

“He was found in the lay down in the field, flat. He’d given up.

“They contacted us and asked if we could take him.”

Fergus has since gained weight and is much healthier, though still has to wear special hoof covers for his feet to prevent abscesses.

Vicki said: “Me and my daughter put loads of work into him these last nine months; bandaging his legs every night, getting boots on him and feeding him.”

The rescue centre ensures all animals have a safe and comfortable place to live after being rescued, and before being rehomed.

Rescue horse Fergus and his hoof boots (Hannah Whiting, 2025)
Rescue horse Fergus and his hoof boots (Hannah Whiting, 2025)

Katy said: “We don’t take hundreds and hundreds [of animals], because we just wouldn’t be able to look after them properly.

“They do all need individual attention, we know them all inside out, we know what they’re going to do before they do it.

“We kind of look after them as if they’re privately owned. We know everything to keep them happy.”

Alongside now becoming a charity, the centre also offer fundraising events throughout the year, with Katy creating scratchcards to raise money for the alpaca’s necessary vitamins and winter injections.

She said: “Whoever won got £50, and I got enough for two months worth [of vitamins].”

Their next fundraiser is a ladies shopping event, described as “something a bit different” by Vicki.

It is set to be a “fab night of shopping while raising funds for rescued animals.”

To find out more about Little Nest Rescue’s charity work and upcoming fundraisers, visit their website.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *