HEDGEHOG Rescue in Chipping Sodbury is requesting donations to support its mission.

Tracey Boden, an NHS nurse, launched Hedgehog Rescue Chipping Sodbury in 2015 after finding a poorly hedgehog.

She trained with a rescue centre in Tewkesbury and then set up her own rescue centre in her back garden.

The rescue has managed to stay open through the Covid crisis with many other rescue centres being closed, but it has been a challenge.

Tracey said:

“We typically have between 30 and 40 hedgehogs at any one time. They have a variety of injuries and illnesses and so, the rescue is never quiet.

“We had two orphaned hoglets which we fed through the night as well as a number with either wound injuries or lungworm.

“We would be grateful for any donations to be able to continue to help hedgehogs in need that come into the rescue from the local areas. 

"We also need dedicated volunteers to support us."

Hedgehogs are iconic members of British wildlife, one of only a few mammal species that use spines as a useful defence mechanism against predators.

Unfortunately, many are killed and injured on our roads, and by the day to day actions of people unaware that these actions are harmful to wildlife.

These can be anything from incidents of hedgehogs being injured by garden strimmers, to being poisoned by slug pellets and rat poisons, to simply eating inappropriate foods provided by well meaning wildlife lovers that are unaware of their specific dietary needs.

For more information or to donate go to hedgehogrescuechippingsodbury.co.uk