CHILDREN at St Augustines Farm in Arlingham can be sure of a prickly encounter when a gathering of rescue hedgehogs pay a visit this half term.

Volunteers from Help a Hedgehog Hospital will be bringing some spiky little characters along to the open family farm on Friday, June 8.

Visitors will be able to see these wild animals up close and hear talks by the hospital’s volunteers before taking part in a hedgehog quiz.

Help a Hedgehog Hospital is a not for profit organisation based in Brimscombe, with an outpost in Frampton-on-Severn.

Carers take in hedgehogs found by members of the public or vets, rehabilitate them and release them back into the wild.

The hospital’s volunteers also work to raise awareness of the endangered status of the hedgehog and educate the public on the needs of the animal through year-long talks and events.

Rob Jewell, who owns St Augustines Farm with his wife Elaine, said: "We have invited the hospital team to the farm before and it was a great success.

"The children and the adults love seeing the hedgehogs – many people have not seen one up close before."

Cash donations to the organisation can be made on the day or visitors can bring along dry cat food (not fish flavours), which is a favourite meal of the creatures.

All the money raised will go towards veterinary bills for the rescued hedgehogs.