Urgent Pig Fence Fundraiser: Help Keep Matilda’s Family Safe

On 11th July, we celebrated a very special milestone at Surge Sanctuary: it has been five years since Matilda arrived with her family. Penny, Clover, Audrey, Regan, Nancy, Jack and Richard are turning five years old, and they are certainly not tiny babies any more!

Matilda has always been a committed escape artist. She fled the farm she was kept on and gave birth to her piglets in the safety of nearby woods. This brave act saved her entire family. Today, they are still together as one happy, mischievous, inseparable group - something incredibly rare for pigs born into the farming industry.

You can find out more about Matilda’s story on this BBC News Article from 2021.

For their fifth birthday, we’re launching an urgent fundraiser to install new, secure fencing around the pigs’ paddocks and keep this determined family safely where they belong.

Why New Fencing Matters

Matilda’s determination didn’t end the day she reached safety. Over the past five years, she has continued to “escape” and she has taught her babies every trick she knows. They are intelligent, resourceful and very proud of their skills.

The fencing around the pigs’ paddocks has been in place since before the sanctuary opened. These clever pigs know exactly where the weak spots are, and they use their strength and determination to push through them. Rooting near the fence line also loosens the soil, making old posts even less secure.

One of Matilda’s escape routes - the fence through the hedgerow has been completely destroyed!

Although their great escapes can seem humorous, the risks are serious. Weak fencing puts Matilda and her family at risk because they can easily push through loose posts or damaged wire, leading them into areas that aren’t safe for pigs. It also puts volunteers at risk, as guiding a determined, excited pig back to her paddock can be physically challenging and unpredictable. And when the pigs break out, it affects the wider sanctuary too - disrupting routines, creating safety concerns, and pulling volunteers away from other essential animal care.

We’ve spent many hours guiding them back home and patching up the fences as best we can, but temporary fixes are no longer enough. For their safety, we need a properly installed, pig‑proof perimeter fence.

The Summer Paddocks They Love

When Matilda was rescued, she had a restrictive ring in her nose, a device commonly used in farming to stop pigs from rooting. As soon as it was removed, she began rooting joyfully, exploring the soil, digging for plants and engaging in the natural behaviours she had been denied. Rooting isn’t just enrichment for pigs; it’s essential to their wellbeing. And Matilda has passed her love of rooting on to all her babies.

Over the summer months, Matilda’s family rotate between several paddocks. One of these is their absolute favourite, a large, grassy area filled with natural rooting plants, shady spots and plenty to explore. It’s enriching, stimulating and keeps them busy in all the best ways.

Sadly, due to weakened fencing, the pigs have had to be locked out of this paddock for their own safety. It’s heartbreaking, because this is the space they enjoy the most. We want them to have full access to this area again, but we can only reopen it once the fencing is replaced.

Our wonderful volunteers have been working hard to ensure Matilda and her babies can’t get in this paddock until it’s secure.

Our Goal: £2,500 for 200m of New Fencing

For the piggies’ 5th birthday, we are launching our urgent campaign to raise £2,500 towards 200 metres of new perimeter fencing around their paddocks.

This cost covers:

• strong fence posts

• pig‑proof stock fencing wire

• professional installation

We need to raise this money as soon as possible, and we need your donations to help cover the cost. There are so many ways to support Matilda’s big babies on their 5th birthday. You can donate directly to the campaign, share the fundraiser, create your own birthday fundraiser, or add a donation option to your Facebook or Instagram post. We also have our beautiful Matilda e‑sponsor packs, which make a thoughtful gift for friends and family, or a special treat for yourself.

Thank You for Supporting Matilda’s Family

In the farming industry, pig families are almost never kept together. Matilda’s brave escape meant her babies survived and they have remained a family ever since. Protecting their paddocks means protecting their bond, their safety and their freedom to live as a family, exactly as they deserve.

For their 5th birthday, we want to give them the gift of safety, freedom and full access to the paddocks they love. We couldn’t help animals like Matilda without you. Every donation helps keep this clever, determined pig family protected and exactly where they belong.

Thank you for helping us.

We’ve collected our favourite photos of Matilda and her piglets over their five years with us below, enjoy!