The Hog Hotline call us on 07518 354408
Prompt action does make the difference between life and death. Please don't just watch a hog in trouble, it is better to call someone and find out that it is OK, than wait and find out it is too late. The earlier a wild animal in trouble is rescued the better the chance of a happy ending.
Covering: North Worcestershire, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Redditch, Stourport on Severn, Kidderminster. South Birmingham; Rednal, Longbridge, Northfield, Stourbridge. And surrounding areas.
Working with & Inspected by the RSPCA
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We are now in our 10th year of running and celebrating a decade of working to help hedgehogs from caring for sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs to education and raising awareness through events and media. The last decade has seen many hedgehogs come under our care, many changes to the way we work and improvements to our facilities and to our knowledge and we would like to thank everyone for their support.
IN 2016 Jayne and I were nominated and finalists for
The Spirit of Bromsgrove Outstanding Community Organisation award.
Daily Mirror Animal Enthusiasts of the Year
Sadly we did not win either but we we honoured to be finalists.
Latest Updates
September 2020; Autumn Juveniles
The leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter and the nights are becoming colder. While this is a time for us for brisk walks, wrapping up warm and cosy nights in this is not a great time for a late Autumn Juvenile Hedgehog,
Many of the later litter hedgehogs will struggle to find enough food to gain the required weight to make it through Winter hibernation.
Please leave some food (dry cat or dog biscuits- small bite size) and some water out for any visiting hedgehogs. If you spot a small hedgehog out in daylight wandering around or seemingly ‘sunbathing’ then please don’t just leave it. Put it into a high sided box with something to hide under (torn newspaper or an old towel), put the box somewhere quite and safe and contact your nearest rescue for advice and help.
Jayne & Charlie Sept 2020
P.S. As head further into October and towards Haloween; please remember that hedgehogs don't need treats just plain water and some food.
We simply do not have the time to write about all the admissions any longer however you from 2014 to 2016 we did document on this website many of the hedgehogs that came under our care.
Click for selection of 2016 admission stories
Click for selection of 2015 admission stories
Click for selection of 2014 admission stories
Four simple Pledges to help Hedgehogs
Changes that you can easily make to help hedgehogs.
Providing Access, Habitat, Food and Safety in your garden.
Working with Councils & Contractors to Safeguard Hedgehogs
We are working with councils, contractors, manufacturers and Housing Trusts to safeguard hedgehogs from gardening injuries.
Hedgehogs need your garden to survive and there are many simple ways to help them and other wildlife flourish in our towns and cities.
A log pile, a leaf pile, long grass, wild areas, a wildlife friendly pond.
Just some of the ways to help.
Hedgehogs need to travel through a number of gardens in a night.
New housing developments are increasingly causing issues with impenetrable fences and gravel boards, please join us in campaigning for a simple solution. You can also make the same change in your garden if you have solid fencing.
Thank you for visiting the Willows Hedgehog Rescue site. We are a self funded hedgehog rescue service dedicated to rescue and rehabilitation of distressed, orphaned and injured Hedgehogs as well as providing awareness and education.
We respond to incidents of injured & ill hedgehogs & orphaned hoglets providing examination, treatment and rehabilitation ensuring that the hedgehogs get the medical attention they need either via our vets in more serious cases or in the majority of cases via ourselves.
We keep them fed and safe in our rescue area and finally in our outdoor pre-release area until they are ready for release back into the wild. Sadly some hedgehogs do sustain injuries that despite ours and our vets best efforts are beyond repair or would cause insurmountable disability and in these cases they have to be euthanized but we ensure that this is carried out humanely and only when absolutely necessary.
Hedgehogs are in decline in the UK and have suffered due to many changes: land management, urban encroachment on the countryside, increased road traffic, ignorance, very tidy gardening and from the use of pesticides and netting to name only a few. This has resulted in many displaced and injured hogs. It is our aim to care for these Hedgehogs, to rehabilitate them and return them to the wild where they belong. We also wish to bring these hazards to the attention of everyone to try to make the world a better place for these wonderful, iconic and unique little creatures.
PLEASE HELP TO SUPPORT US.
Even just a couple of pounds helps towards the treatment and daily needs of the hedgehogs in our care.
The cost of running the rescue unit runs into thousands of pounds every year, all of which we rely on fundraising and donations to cover.
You can help hedgehogs by leaving some food and clean water out for them.
Dry cat or dog biscuits in meat flavours or hedgehog food which a number of companies produce including Ark Wildlife & Spikes are the best options. Soft food can be left out as well but will need regularly changing. Place the food bowls under an upturned plastic tub or wooden box with a 4" square hole with the sides smoothed. This lets the hedgehogs get to the food but cats etc can't allowing the hedgehogs to eat in peace & stopping the food being eaten before they can get to it.
Oh and don't forget water is very important, a dish of water can be a life saver. Never leave milk out.
Of course to able to enjoy all of this hedgehogs have to able to get into your garden. All it takes is a 5" gap and hedgehogs can get in and out.
You can also help hedgehogs by providing suitable habitat in your garden for them.
More info Gardening for Hedgehogs
For more information about us please visit the About Us page.
Character Willow, Copyright Charlie Creek.
All photographs, Illustrations, Audio, Video & content copyright CharlieCreek 2010 - 2020