Torrential rain did little to dampen the fashionable stylings of your fiery reporter, the Monday just gone, as an unpredicted downpour broke over Godric’s Hollow. Undeterred – and in a stunning suit, accented with a waistcoat in Maclennan Clan Tartan and wellington boots – this reporter trudged down the lane leading to Shoeburyness Magical Wildlife Reserve.
I can hear you, dear readers, as I write crying “Why do we care about wildlife?! This is a fashion and gossip magazine!”
There is method to my madness, however. The Shoeburyness Magical Wildlife Reserve is an annex of the larger reserve in Shoeburyness is ran by two of Godric’s Hollow’s most eligible bachelors (if Hot or Not? Is to be believed). Ignatious and Tragen Jaron (TJ) Ashworth have worked to expand beyond their family name to build multiple magical wildlife reserves to care for sick and injured magical creatures.
“It started out because I’ve always loved creatures, I connected with them better than people at times.” TJ told your vivacious reporter. “I was originally planning to do it alone, Ignatious was not as interested back then in our fifth and sixth years, he had his own dreams. I wanted to collect creatures, but after leaving school early and getting out there, we came across a few creatures who were injured or neglected, and decided to refocus our attention on helping rather than just collecting.”
Whilst showing me mooncalves and telling me of the beauty of diricawls I dropped the hard hitting question; funding. Currently a petition is working its way round – from officials, to famous faces, and even the foreign ministers – to sway the British Ministry of Magic to allow further funding.
Despite this, TJ and Ignatious assured me that it’s not just tax money they’re spending on the Wildlife Reserves;
“Most was from our vaults at Gringotts, but since we didn’t want to dig too deep into family funds, a large portion of it was also from our father, he also funded our travels when we had left school and were looking to make connections with others.”
– TJ Ashworth
“We have been saving our allowance pretty much our whole lives”
– Ignatious Ashworth
When pressed for one good reason the public should part with their signature – and their tax money – to support them, TJ eloquently told me
“- These creatures are not longer able to either care for themselves or live a normal life in the wild, so we help where we can, and give them a safe place to call home.”
With a wide list of creatures including a Griffin, mooncalves, diricawls, horclumps, thestrals, and flying horses it’s not all hard work for the two not-twins. They have a small group of dedicated volunteers helping support their newest venture and of course their famous summer gala is on its way this Friday.
From inside their small cottage – surrounded by jarveys, fwoopers, and an adorable niffler – they assured me, and the readers of Witch Weekly, that despite the recent tragedy within their family the family flare for raucous and swinging parties will not abate. The main change for this Friday’s gala will be the fundraising that will take place and, of course, the location.
The Shoeburyness Reserve in Godric’s Hollow will play host to this summers’ Ashworth gala so the not-twins remind all the readers who plan on attending to wear suitable footwear and, of course, bring their money purses!
We’ll see you there!
– Saffron Foxclaw