LAST year put us under the most pressure ever and, unsurprisingly, was our record year for handling wild birds with 1,702 brought to us.

Amazingly we managed to return to the wild 875 birds, 19 foxes, 24 hedgehogs, two slow worms, two bats and 17 assorted smaller mammals like rabbits and mice.

Our efforts this year were really hampered by trying to house and treat more than 600 herring gulls during a four month period.

The number of herring gulls which are brought to us take over all our accommodation, making life difficult looking after and housing all the other creatures needing our help.

As I have mentioned before, Brighton and Hove needs a specialist unit to refer herring gulls to, which would relieve the pressure on overworked rescue centres at such a busy time of year.

If a specialist unit is out of the question then anyone with a piece of secure spare land to take aviaries and help with the looking after of these protected birds would be so helpful.

It would be great if Brighton and Hove Albion, the “Seagulls”, would become involved (I am a season ticket holder) and maybe sponsor an area in the city to become a specialist unit for seagulls.

Who better?

Or maybe even The Argus could get involved? There is certainly a great need for this unit sooner rather than later.

My wife and I are dreading this year’s gull season and we don’t want to get to the stage where we have to refuse admission of herring gulls like so many other rescue centres already do when the season reaches its peak.

We’d like to thank everybody who was able to bring us injured birds during the year which is always a great help and everyone who kindly supported us with a donation.

Roger’s Wildlife Rescue wishes Argus readers a Happy New Year.

Roger Musselle Roger’s Wildlife Rescue Downs Valley Road Woodingdean