The main part of the collection will be sold as The Susan Collard Collection by Special Auction Services, Newbury on 8th December this year and is excepted to raise a significant sum. The remaining teddy bears will be included in auctions next year.

Sue, with the support of her husband Les, started collecting in 1994 had been putting her collection together since 1994, buying at Christie's South Kensington in the 'good old days' of their bear auctions, and bought bears then from all over the country, mainly from local auctions and then from Special Auction Services. Les says that “every bear was special to Sue and most had their own names,” and he hopes each will find a loving new home.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust are very grateful to Susan and Les for choosing the charity as the beneficiary of the sales. Susan was a long-standing member of the Trust and lover of wildlife. A keen gardener, her beautiful garden in Hereford was created as a haven for wildlife.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s CEO Jamie Audsley says:

“We are incredibly grateful to the Collards for this wonderful gift. The funds will contribute to our land purchase fund and to support our work restoring wildlife habitats across the county – a legacy for our landscape, and for future generations to enjoy. Gifts such as this are essential to us and allow us to continue our work to protect Herefordshire’s wildlife and wild places.”

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust manages 60 nature reserves across the county and works with landowners, communities and individuals on projects throughout our towns and countryside to restore habitats and protect species. They also run activities and programmes engaging people of all ages in the natural world. They are supported by over 6,500 members and 500 volunteers.

Further information about the sale can be found at: https://www.specialauctionservices.com/ or by contacting Suzanne Trisk at press@specialauctionservices.com or on 07710 207164.