The story of the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre began long before the first seal arrived — in fact, it started with a bullfinch in 1940. When a young girl in Suffolk volunteered to care for her father’s beloved bird before he left to serve in the Far East, she unknowingly began a lifelong family tradition of compassion and care for animals in need.

Over the following decades, that same spirit of kindness grew. In the 1960s, the family built their first zoological garden in Suffolk, entirely by hand. It was humble, heartfelt, and fuelled by their shared love of wildlife. Visitors soon came from far and wide, curious to see the growing collection of rescued animals — each one with its own story to tell. But after devastating floods in 1971, the family faced an impossible challenge. Rather than give up, they looked north — to the windswept Lincolnshire coast — and decided to start anew.

In 1974, armed with little more than determination, creativity, and a caravan, they built what became the Mablethorpe Animal & Bird Garden. No one expected that a single rescued seal pup would redefine the site’s future, but that tiny arrival sparked a whole new chapter. From that moment, caring for injured and orphaned seals became a calling.

As more seals and wild animals found refuge, the site expanded. A seal hospital was built in the late 1980s through remarkable community fundraising and national support, earning charitable status in 1990. What began as a family passion had become a mission: to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife back into their natural habitats, and to inspire others to protect the natural world.

The sanctuary continued to evolve through the 1990s and early 2000s, adding large interlinked seal pools, modern enclosures, and new exhibits — including the much-loved Prehistoric Wildlife Zone, which celebrates the ancient natural history of Lincolnshire.

Then, in 2011, a new chapter began when Dennis and Chloe Drew took over the sanctuary. With fresh energy and a deep respect for its legacy, they transformed it into a thriving, family-run charity. Under their leadership, the Sanctuary has grown into a vibrant hub for conservation, education, and hands-on wildlife care, supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who share the same passion that began over 80 years ago.

Today, the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre is proud to stand as one of Lincolnshire’s most loved attractions — not just a place to visit, but a place with purpose. Every rescued seal, every rehabilitated bird, and every educational encounter helps carry forward a simple but powerful message: that compassion for animals can change the world.