A WOMAN who has dedicated herself to helping wildlife by running a rehabilitation centre from her family home has received a national award.

Krista Langley, who co-founded The Wildlife Haven in Thirsk with her daughter Lauren, has won a 2017 Wildlife Rescue Award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Mrs Langley first started helping wildlife in Herefordshire 18-years-ago before moving to Thirsk and setting up the Haven in 2008.

The centre is a family-run, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility which takes in all species of British wildlife, everything from bats and badgers to owls and otters.

Since opening in Thirsk they have helped over 7,000 wild animals from across the wider region.

Today (Tuesday, October 17) Mrs Langley is attending the House of Lords to receive her IFAW award and speaking to The Northern Echo beforehand she said she is dedicating it to her team.

She said: “I am delighted, but obviously it would be nice if it had been for the Thirsk team altogether.

“It was my daughter who nominated me and I run it with her with others people’s help, so I feel that I am accepting it on behalf of all of us.

“It is a great honour to be given this award.”

Mrs Langley said that the centre, which typically deals with around 2,000 calls annually, has just experienced its busiest year so far, particularly in the number of hedgehogs being brought in.

The team takes every care to ensure that the animals do not become domesticated during their rehabilitation, and Mrs Langley said that although running the centre is hard work, it is also rewarding.

“It can be emotional, it (rehabilitation) isn’t always successful and we see a lot of animal abuse,” she said.

“Being in North Yorkshire we still live in a very pro-hunting county unfortunately, so we do see a lot of unpleasant things; animals that have been snared, trapped and shot.

“There is a very sad side to it, but obviously there is a good side which is releasing them which is very, very rewarding, especially if they have been with us for a long time.”

Mrs Langley added that she is grateful to her family, charity trustees, supporters and fundraisers who help to keep the centre running.

Another North Yorkshire enterprise, the York Hedgehog Rescue Centre, was also honoured by the IFAW.