Deanshanger Hedgehog Rescue has a prickly problem that you can help to solve - it needs a big cash injection to help fund a new hospital.
Dominic and Rachel Matthews set up the rescue in 2021, but with increasing numbers of patients in need of care, they are having to turn hogs away.
“It makes us feel awful,” Rachel told Total MK, “We try our best to get those that we don’t have the space for accommodated elsewhere, but our next closest rescue is half an hour away and they are often full to capacity too.”
The charity receives no government funding and exists entirely on donations from well-wishers, and volunteers.
“We currently have a small rehab centre, which is a converted stables in a livery yard, but a hospital will enable us to be able to help more hogs, and it’s essential - these beautiful creatures are still vulnerable to extinction.
“Numbers of hedgehogs have plummeted over the past 30 years as people have put up fences, restricting their natural movement and fragmenting their natural landscape, and the use of pesticides and strimmers have increased, not to mention the increase in vehicles on our roads.”
Last year, Dominic and Rachel, who both have a background in animal science, took in 200 hogs in need, and had a release rate of 56% - well above the national average of 40%
A hospital would mean they could help many more of these marvellous mammals, but it comes with a hefty price tag in the region of £50,000.
“We will be applying for grants to raise some of the cash, but would be so grateful for any individual donations, or any fundraising events that people would be kind enough to put on to help us reach the magic number.”
The plan is to convert a shipping container into the hospital space, which means it will be mobile and can move to new premises as necessary.
The couple, who are assisted in their work by a small team of fellow volunteers, also provide lifelines for any ‘small furries’, including voles, shrews, bats, field mice, and harvest mice, which also sit on the endangered list.
“Why is it important to care about these creatures? Because if we don’t care now, they won’t be here tomorrow,” Natasha said, “Nature is so important for our mental health, too. Would we really want a world where nature has been significantly diminished? I don’t think so.”
To learn more about Deanshanger Hedgehog Rescue click to https://www.deanshangerhedgehogrescue.org.uk/
To make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-a-pricklymanoeuvre
