A HEDGEHOG lover’s lockdown project continues to grow as she looks to raise more funds for her rescue centre.
Alison White began looking after hedgehogs in her garage shortly before the first national lockdown hit.
However, when the nation was told to stay at home she began to expand her rescue efforts and added hutches to accommodate the extra animals she was getting and the equipment needed to look after them ahead of their release back into the wild.
Her family gathered round and created a custom-built hedgehog hospital for her in the garden.
She then founded Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue Centre which takes in animals found by the public.
Alison said: “I can’t save them all and I get some come in that are far more injured than others.
“I have some come in that have been out in the day and others that have been injured with hedge trimmers – they are usually the worst injuries. The trimmers can cause injuries that go quite deep, they are not always fatal but can be.”
Alison assesses every hedgehog that comes in and if needed she takes them to the vet and nurses them to full health with a help from a team of volunteers.
“As the hedgehogs recover we get to see their little characters come out, which is always a pleasure to see,” Alison said.
“And when it’s time to say goodbye and release them back into the wild it can be bittersweet.”
She said vet bills are her highest cost at present and most of the funds handed over to her are spent on these.
The rescue centre also covers the cost of the food, bedding, cages, heat lamps and other equipment needed to help a speedy recovery.
Alison said at present she takes on the cost of running the hedgehog hospital into her own utility bills but she is unsure what will happen when the energy rise hits.
Solihogs is hosting a fundraising open day on July 16 at the centre on Greenslade Road in Shirley. From 10am until 4pm there will be homemade cakes, drinks and a chance to see what Alison and her team of volunteers get up to.
Alison asks anyone who finds a hedgehog that may need help to call her first on 07977 116002 to make sure it is safe to move the animal.
For more information or to donate click here.
