CRT trustee celebrates 25 years of the British Wildlife Centre

The renowned British Wildlife Centre visitor attraction, run by CRT trustee David Mills MBE, is celebrating 25 years in conservation. 

In 1994, David, a former dairy farmer, made a bold decision to transform his farm into a centre for “Conservation through Education.” Three years later, his vision came to life with the opening of the British Wildlife Centre. The centre is the finest collection of British wildlife in the country, playing a big part in vital conservation programmes, breeding endangered native species for reintroduction back into the wild. 

The centre’s mission is to inspire young people to appreciate and care for Britain’s native wildlife, fostering a lifelong commitment to conservation—a goal that closely aligns with the work of the CRT. 

As the UK’s largest breeder of red squirrels, the British Wildlife Centre plays a pivotal role in the conservation of these iconic creatures.  David has been instrumental in launching successful release programs on grey squirrel-free islands, where red squirrels are now thriving. 

CRT trustee David Mills.

Photo credit Matt Binstead. Permission granted by the British Wildlife Centre.

CRT trustee David Mills at a trustee meeting

David decided to specialise in British wildlife as he felt that there was a need to educate the public about native species and the challenges they face living in the wild in Britain today. 

Yet, despite his achievements, he acknowledges there is still much work to be done, made even more challenging by the current economic climate and government policies. 

“I am hoping we are going to be able to continue what we are doing but it is not easy in this economic climate,” he said. “Farming is in a dreadful state at the moment and there is no government support whatsoever.  I hope we can continue our work, but it's a tough time for both farmers and wildlife.” 
 
David is particularly concerned about the impact of current policies on small businesses, including his own.  

“The government hasn’t fully considered the consequences,” he explains. “This year is going to be particularly difficult for farmers. The only way to survive may be to intensively farm, but that’s not the direction we want to go in. It’s disheartening to see so many people leaving the industry because they simply cannot make a living.” 

When David left the dairy industry three decades ago, there were around 37,000 dairy farmers in the UK. Today, that number has dwindled to approximately 7,000, with many more leaving every year. 

David highlights the work of CRT tenant Matt at Brays Farm, who has managed to thrive by operating a small, direct-to-consumer dairy business.  

“Matt’s approach is a shining example of how small farm businesses can succeed, and we are proud to support him,” David says. 

David said with 98 per cent of the UK population now living and working in towns and cities, many people are so distanced from nature, they are no longer aware of it. 

“My ambition has always been to find a way to share my personal wildlife experiences with everyone, so they too can learn about and enjoy nature. By bringing together a collection of native animals kept in natural surroundings, I have gone some way to achieving my ambition.”

David Mills, photo with permission of British Wildlife Centre

The CRT extends its heartfelt congratulations to David on the 25th anniversary of the British Wildlife Centre and commends him for his tireless efforts as a trustee. 

Danielle Dewe, CEO of the CRT, said: “David has dedicated his life to nature and conservation. He has always a source of inspiration for the CRT and myself, and was a very good friend of our founder, Robin Page.  He is one of those people you meet in life who lead by example and that is incredibly motivating and positive. The CRT is so fortunate to benefit from his expertise and I thank him for that commitment.”