A COMMITTED team of animal-loving volunteers in Wrexham have helped to save the lives of more than 600 hens during 2019, enabling them to enjoy a free-range future.

In total, 18 volunteers support the British Hen Welfare Trust in North Wales, all of whom play a significant role in saving the lives of hundreds of chickens each year.

The volunteers help to collect the birds from their cages at commercial laying farms and then send them on their way to their new family homes to live out their retirement.

The British Hen Welfare Trust, an animal welfare charity founded in 2005, works with a network of over 800 volunteers across the country.

It rehomes commercial laying hens who are otherwise destined for slaughter, as well as working with the industry to improve welfare standards for laying hens.

The national charity is in urgent need of a new co-ordinator for its Wrexham rehoming site, which has sent more than 8,000 hens off to start a free-range retirement since launching in 2015.

Debbie Siggs, volunteer co-ordinator for the British Hen Welfare Trust, said: “Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity, and we couldn’t save the lives of these animals without them. “Since 2005, we’ve worked together to save more than 730,000 hens from slaughter.

“Those hens have gone on to become much-loved family pets, enjoying their first taste of the great outdoors and laying the occasional free-range egg in return.

“We’re now looking for a new co-ordinator to lead our team in North Wales and help us save even more lives.

“Being a co-ordinator means you will have overall responsibility on a rehoming day, helping to organise volunteers and ensure all our lovely hens are sent off safely to their new pet homes. “Our Wrexham site is already established and a team of volunteers is ready and raring to go –we just need the right person with a passion for animals and good organisational skills to help co-ordinate the day.

For more information email Debbie.siggs@bhwt.co.uk