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News


Mike devoted to saving abandoned terrapins


LEGIONS of abandoned pet tur- tles are living in our lakes and rivers where they become prone to disease and starvation and are a threat to wildlife. Bought as children’s pets while brightly-coloured babies no bigger than a 50p coin, they grow to din- ner-plate size and are dumped by owners who mistakenly think it is kind to release them into the wild. Hundreds have ended up being


cared for at the Turtle Sanctuary at Staplehurst, which was set up by Mike Butcher in his back garden. Mike, pictured, now has 1,000 terrapins, or freshwater turtles, in tanks and ponds behind his home in Green Hill and hopes to raise money to set up a charity so that he can rescue even more. The 37-year-old has been fasci-


nated with terrapins since child- hood when he was a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He began taking them in six years ago when he became concerned about people dumping them. Mike , who is looking for crowd- funding, said: “I got the first one


from someone on Facebook who was giving it away. I found they were being abandoned worldwide. I took in more and I started build- ing ponds. There are three large ponds and tanks in the garden and tanks in every room. “My dream is to build a big sanc-


tuary, butwe need more donations. To register as a charity we need £5,000 a year and we are lucky to get £40.” Mike’s mum Denise (62) helps to


care for the turtles, which arrive from throughout Kent and the rest


of the UK. She said: “I feel sorry for them but I wish we had more room.” Mike said: “People hand them in because they can’t look after them and fishermen find them in lakes and rivers. I have just got one from Bluewater – someone found it walking on the side of the road. A lot are dumped in Mote Park. “People think terrapins are lovely presents for children. But they grow to about 40cm and can live for 30 years. Some people get rid of them because they have got too big or because they think they smell.” Dumped in the wild, the crea-


tures can become diseased, blind and deformed through poor diet and conditions, and can strip awa- terway of fish, newts and frogs, and even youngwaterfowl. Mike said: “I don’t re-home


them. I justwant to look after them. We run a sanctuary.We take them them in and keep them until they die of old age.We only ask for a do- nation.” To make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfund- ing/denise-butcher


downsmail.co.uk Messy church


MESSY Church at St Peter’s and St Paul’s, inAylesford, will nextmeeton Friday, June 2. It will be taking place from 4.15pm


to 6.15pm in the Brasssey Centre, Sta- tion Road,Aylesford. This is a chance for families to enjoy


story time, crafts, singalongandshar- ing of a simple meal, but children must be accompanied to the event. There is a small charge of £1 per


child on the day. Organisers say that the Messy Church date “is becoming an in- creasingly popular eventandfamilies are welcome to go along and join in the fun and celebration”.


Rogue traders POLICE are investigating after an elderly Maidstonewomanpaid for a roof restoration - but was told days later it needed more work. Officerswarned that rogue traders


overcharge for unnecessary work, damage property deliberately to get money or leave work unfinished. Inspector Jody Gagan-Cook said:


“Anyone needing work done should obtain two or three quotes from rep- utable companies." Call Kent Police appeals line on


01622 604100 or email west.divi- sion.media.appeals@Kent.pnn.po- lice.uk.


All Day Breakfasts • Jacket Potatoes • Burgers


Baguettes & Sandwiches • Various Salads


Pasta Dishes • Pies & Traditional English Food Carvery every


Open Early Morning - 7 Days a Week Ample Parking - Free Wi-Fi - Get connected at Mickey’s


Blue Bell Hill, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7EZ


24 Malling May 2017 01634 682928


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