Our Patrons
We are proud to be supported by so many well-known patrons including Kate Humble, Jimmy Doherty, Amanda Holden and Jamie Oliver, and we are so grateful to them for donating their time to help promote the very important work we do in helping hens.
We have had hens ourselves when our boys were younger, and it was the first time I ever tasted a ‘real’ egg. Since then, I’ve learned more about the difference between free range and organic eggs, and I think the BHWT is a really worthwhile endeavour, so to be able to help them is a very nice thing. Helping out with the Christmas cards has been great and if me being a patron leads to someone somewhere giving some hens a good home, then I’m all for it.
I was really impressed with the pragmatic approach of the British Hen Welfare Trust. They don’t just do fluffy stuff in saving lives, they genuinely want to support the British egg industry and use positive education as a means to get their message across. When we heard about the British Hen Welfare Trust, we thought we’d try some of their ex-caged hens; after a little bit of scrapping, pecking and feather-pulling early on, my little flock of 20 are now all very happy together. We just love being able to eat fresh, healthy eggs from happy free-ranging birds that we know are well cared for.
I think the British Hen Welfare Trust does a fantastic and important job. I first came across the charity when I was making the Fowl Dinners programme in 2008, and I was trying to encourage people to go higher welfare when it came to chicken and eggs. For me, part of being a meat-eater is all about respecting the animals that are bred for our food, so it’s important for them to be cared for and well treated. The BHWT has a vital role to play.
I have been proud to be a Patron of the BHWT for several years and am delighted to have enjoyed some ex-bats with all their endearing antics. I think the BHWT does a grand job in not only helping thousands of birds destined for slaughter and raising awareness of how consumers can make a difference in improving their lives but also in their non-judgemental stance with the industry. If you’re able, please give them a little help to keep progressing their work.
In 2010 Jimmy filmed The Private Life of Chickens at the British Hen Welfare Trust’s Devon hen central to find out what goes on behind the hen-house door through a series of experiments and observations to understand the behaviour and psychology of chickens.
I think the British Hen Welfare Trust does a fantastic and important job. I first came across the charity when I was making the Fowl Dinners programme in 2008, and I was trying to encourage people to go higher welfare when it came to chicken and eggs. For me, part of being a meat-eater is all about respecting the animals that are bred for our food, so it’s important for them to be cared for and well treated. The BHWT has a vital role to play.
I used to have some ex-battery hens when I was a child and remember well the sorry condition they arrived in and the pleasure it was to see them transform from sad little creatures into beautiful birds. I agreed to be Patron of the BHWT not only because I remember the hens from my childhood, but also because I, too, want to see a better life for the millions of laying hens still in cages.
Sadly the Dowager Duchess of Richmond passed away on 13th June 2023 having lived to the glorious age of 90; below we outline just a little of what a wonderfully compassionate and kind lady she was.
The Duchess agreed to become a Patron of the BHWT in July 2005 after adopting her first flock of feather-bare hens to lavish them with the care and love they deserved. She went on to adopt several more flocks and was always willing to help promote the BHWT, agreeing to give an interview for a double page spread in the Mail on Sunday in 2005. She also became a regular donor to the charity, helping us to build for our future.
The Duchess was also a trailblazer of the organic farming movement and, with her husband, made headline news when they adopted two mixed race children in the 1960’s. And furthermore she was responsible for creating the concept of dressage to music, something that eventually came to form part of the Olympic Games.
The charity is deeply grateful to the Duchess for her kind words and support through all her years as Patron, and for giving several flocks of hens a very lucky life.
Bob Mortimer
We have had hens ourselves when our boys were younger, and it was the first time I ever tasted a ‘real’ egg. Since then, I’ve learned more about the difference between free range and organic eggs, and I think the BHWT is a really worthwhile endeavour, so to be able to help them is a very nice thing. Helping out with the Christmas cards has been great and if me being a patron leads to someone somewhere giving some hens a good home, then I’m all for it.
Most recently Bob and his wife Lisa designed our 2020 Christmas cards which sold out within thirty minutes and had to be re-stocked several times.
Kate Humble
I was really impressed with the pragmatic approach of the British Hen Welfare Trust. They don’t just do fluffy stuff in saving lives, they genuinely want to support the British egg industry and use positive education as a means to get their message across. Setting up as a rehoming point is a great way for us to support their valuable work. When we heard about the British Hen Welfare Trust, we thought we’d try some of their ex-caged hens; after a little bit of scrapping, pecking and feather-pulling early on, my little flock of 20 are now all very happy together. We just love being able to eat fresh, healthy eggs from happy free-ranging birds that we know are well cared for.
Jamie Oliver
I think the British Hen Welfare Trust does a fantastic and important job. I first came across the charity when I was making the Fowl Dinners programme in 2008, and I was trying to encourage people to go higher welfare when it came to chicken and eggs. For me, part of being a meat-eater is all about respecting the animals that are bred for our food, so it’s important for them to be cared for and well treated. The BHWT has a vital role to play.
More recently in 2018, Jane was involved in filming for an episode of Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast on the topic of hidden eggs.
Pam Ayres
National treasure, Pam Ayres, has been a patron of the British Hen Welfare Trust since 2006. She has been actively involved with the BHWT’s educational work, writing poetry for school resources including her poem called The Battery Hen as well as appearing on our YouTube channel in 2017 to promote rehoming hens.
I have been proud to be a Patron of the BHWT for several years and am delighted to have enjoyed some ex-bats with all their endearing antics. I think the BHWT does a grand job in not only helping thousands of birds destined for slaughter and raising awareness of how consumers can make a difference in improving their lives but also in their non-judgemental stance with the industry. If you’re able, please give them a little help to keep progressing their work.
Jimmy Doherty
In 2010 Jimmy filmed The Private Life of Chickens at the British Hen Welfare Trust’s Devon hen central to find out what goes on behind the hen-house door through a series of experiments and observations to understand the behaviour and psychology of chickens.
Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden, much-loved TV personality, and highly acclaimed actress was invited to be a patron of the charity and surprised our Founder by calling her at home one day to say she would love to support a charity that sought a better life for laying hens.
I used to have some ex-battery hens when I was a child and remember well the sorry condition they arrived in and the pleasure it was to see them transform from sad little creatures into beautiful birds. I agreed to be Patron of the BHWT not only because I remember the hens from my childhood, but also because I, too, want to see a better life for the millions of laying hens still in cages.
Duchess of Richmond
The Duchess of Richmond resides at Goodwood Park in Sussex and comes from a family of devoted hen-keepers. She became one of our first patrons in 2005.
I have taken several small groups of battery hens from the Trust and have thoroughly enjoyed watching them blossom into confident and precocious characters. For me, the BHWT does a fantastic job – they don’t confront or judge, they just encourage and promote their work through positive means. These unassuming birds burst into life once they are given the opportunity; their individual personalities are captivating and can become great time wasters! Please support this positive and well-founded charity.
