Rabbit rescue centre fundraises to secure new home

The Rabbit Residence Rescue in Great Chishill became a charity in 2012

David Webster / BBC A bunny looking at a cardboard box and some straw — The Rabbit Residence Rescue in Great Chishill became a charity in 2012

A rabbit rescue shelter that has functioned without water or electricity for more than 20 years has launched a fundraising initiative to change its venue.

Rabbit Residence Rescue in Great Chishill, Cambridgeshire, became a charity in 2012 and is currently home to about 100 unwanted and abandoned bunnies.

Every day staff bring water onto the site via water carriers, as the shelter uses about 300 litres a week.

Lea Facey, the rescue centre's manager, said volunteers and part-time workers hope to raise £120,000 to move to a new well-equipped building in Bygrave near Baldock, Hertfordshire.

There are about 100 rabbits on site, who are looked after by part-time staff and volunteers

David Webster / BBC Two bunnies in a cardboard box — There are about 100 rabbits on site, who are looked after by part-time staff and volunteers

Ms Facey said: "We are moving to get better facilities, largely so we can help more rabbits, [as] we are limited on this site with the number of rabbits we can help."

"We currently have 108 rabbits waiting to come in on our waiting list.

"A larger more purpose-built site would enable us to help unwanted or neglected pet rabbits."

The rescue centre's current site does not have any heating and Ms Facey said that during the winter months the workers rely on "lots of layers" and "waterproofs".

She added that the rabbits have big straw beds and insulated hide-outs, but that they might not mind the frosty temperatures because they were "better in the cooler weather".

Most of the bunnies living at the centre are unwanted or have been abandoned

David Webster / BBC A white bunny rabbit — Most of the bunnies living at the centre are unwanted or have been abandoned

The rescue centre has been encouraging people to take part in the Hop, Skip and Jump online challenge to raise money, where people can film themselves either hopping, skipping or jumping and make a donation to the charity.

Ms Facey said the initiative was similar to the viral ice bucket challenge which became popular in the summer of 2014.

She added: "There is some uncertainty to us staying on the [current] site long-term." She added that the centre had been unable to fundraise in-person on the site, which was why the challenge had been launched online and people had been urged to send in their videos.

Ms Facey said: "Every hop, skip and jump will bring us closer to our goal of providing a better home for our rabbits and expanding our rescue efforts."

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