A TRUST has thanked a Herefordshire woman who left the legacy of her 4,000 teddy bears to it.
It was Susan Collard's dying wish for the proceeds of her 4,000 strong antique and vintage teddy bear collection to go to the charity after she died earlier this year.
The main part of the collection will be sold as The Susan Collard Collection by Special Auction Services, in Newbury, on December 8 this year and it is expected to raise a significant sum.
The remaining teddy bears will be included in auctions next year.
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Les and Susan Collard
Ms Collard, with the support of her husband Les, started collecting in 1994, buying at Christie's South Kensington in the 'good old days' of their bear auctions.
She bought bears then from all over the country, mainly from local auctions and then from Special Auction Services.
Mr Collard said: "Every bear was special to Sue and most had their own names."
He hopes each will find a loving new home.
Susan Collard's teddy bear collection
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust are very grateful to Mr and Mrs Collard for choosing the charity as the beneficiary of the sales.
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Mrs Collard 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, said a spokesperson from the trust.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust's chief executive Jamie Audsley said: "We are incredibly grateful to the Collards for this wonderful gift.
Susan Collard's teddy bear collection
"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.
It also runs activities and programmes engaging people of all ages in the natural world.
The trust is supported by over 6,500 members and 500 volunteers.
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