Meet this fantastic volunteer at Baddeley Green Hedgehog Rescue Centre

“I would recommend anyone to volunteer no matter how big or small or just to become more aware of this declining species before they become non-existent."

At VAST, we are firm believers that there is a volunteering role suitable for everyone – no matter how much time you can spare, even an hour a week can make a huge difference.

Emma has worked for the Hanley Economic Building Society for over 17 years. The Hanley are incredibly passionate about volunteering and the benefits it can bring to its staff and local communities. Emma has taking part in many different volunteering opportunities, some one off, some more sustained ranging from Douglas Macmillan, YMCA and the Alice Charity.

Emma currently volunteers for Baddeley Green Hedgehog Rescue Centre, and has done for almost two years now.

She first found out about the Rescue Centre from a family member who was a “Weightgainer” with hedgehogs in her garage in converted rabbit hutches. She started to tell me about what she was doing and why. She was looking after poorly hedgehogs who had been injured (lots from gardening accidents) or illness (due to poison or from slugs who carry a harmful parasite). 

These poorly or injured hedgehogs often to go ‘enclosed’ gardens to gain strengths before being released back into the wild, in a safer environment.

This went onto her family member suggesting that Emma’s garden would be ideal, as it is large with lots of plants and shrubs, with mainly fenced in areas. Emma soon found herself videoing and photographing her garden to send to the Rescue Centre for them to assess if it would be suitable or not.

Then the fun began! This involved making sure the garden was completely enclosed, installing wildlife cameras, hedgehog houses and feeding stations. In August 2022, she welcomed in her first hedgehog, named Capri who had suffered a head injury and was now blind. Capri needed somewhere safe to live, but still be outdoors.

 Capri wasn’t the only hedgehog for long! Two more hedgehogs arrived, who were more of a temporary guest. They had been admitted to the ‘Hogspital’ at the Rescue Centre, been checked and treated. They now needed to gain weight and get used to being back outside before being released.

The hedgehogs that Emma looks after mainly need support feeding (with yummy cat food), weekly health checks and weighing reports to be sent back to the Rescue Centre with their progress.

Emma has had approximately 20 hedgehogs come and go since she has been volunteering, many of which have been successfully released back into the wild. Some have struggled, and needed to go back to the Rescue Centre for further treatment before being released to another enclosed garden to see how they get on in a different environment.

Emma currently has two hedgehogs with her at the moment. One of which is Mercutio, a permanent resident as he is old and blind. He is often out during the day following Emma around the garden. The other goes by Coco Pops, who came to Emma as a juvenile as he was struggling with his curl. He is hopefully due to be released soon as he has learnt how to curl properly, and is much better at collecting leaves and building nests all over the garden. All of the hedgehogs that are admitted to the Rescue Centre are given a name by their finder and are microchipped to help monitor their progress.

Emma has learnt a lot about hedgehogs in the last two years and finds the role very enjoyable and rewarding to know that she has helped successfully release hedgehogs back into the wild to hopefully increase their numbers.

“They are very unique little creatures, with lots of character and charm.”

Emma’s family, friends and neighbours have also enjoyed seeing the hedgehogs and have started to be more aware of them and supporting any potential visitors to their own gardens by putting food and water out, checking piles of leaves before cutting the grass or tidying up, not using slug pellets or pesticides and allowing access points in hedgerows or fences.

If anyone would like to find out more on how to volunteer or support these prickly little creatures, I would recommend contacting your local rescue centre to find out more.