The Bird Sisters - audio documentary

Join us for a special preview of 

The Bird Sisters: A Century of Care and Compassion. 

14.8.2026 at The Gardener's House, Penzace at 6pm

In 1928, two unconventional sisters on a Cornish clifftop took in one injured jackdaw. Nearly a century later, the Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital they created has saved thousands of seabirds - and now faces its greatest challenge.

Filmmaker Barbara Santi takes you on a journey through the extraordinary story of Dorothy and Phyllis Yglesias, who refused to live by Edwardian society's rules and instead built something that would outlast them both. From the bohemian art world of Newlyn to the Torrey Canyon oil disaster of 1967, from economic collapse to the devastating bird flu outbreak of 2022, this is a story of determination, compassion, and the power of refusing to give up.

Through rich archive recordings of Dorothy herself, rare interviews with those who knew the sisters, and voices from the Mousehole community who grew up with the hospital as part of village life, we discover two remarkable women who learned medicine by trial and error, lived with ravens in their studios, and became unlikely saints of conservation.

As the hospital approaches its hundredth anniversary in 2028, CEO Tamsin Smith and chair Jeremy Whittaker must navigate modern biosecurity threats while honouring the sisters' legacy. Can an institution built on intuition and dedication survive in an age of protocols and pandemics?

Narrated by actress Elaine Claxton, who volunteered at the hospital for a year and knows its magic firsthand.

Original music composed by Justin Wiggan.

Audio archive copyright Newlyn Archive.

Audio mix Richard Bulter.

Produced, recorded and edited by Barbara Santi of awen productions

Funded by The British Academy / Leverhulme Trust and Heritage Fund.

Running time: 31 minutes