Gateshead hedgehog "Hogspital" gets a makeover thanks to donations
The Hope For Hedgehogs sanctuary in Ryton was given £1000 to help look after the animals
A hedgehog sanctuary in Gateshead is getting a makeover - thanks to a donation from a major housebuilding company.
Hope for Hedgehogs, in Ryton, started out as a small facility operating from founder Sandra Lowe’s home and garden in 2018.
Since then, it has grown into a full ‘hogspital’ run by Mrs Lowe a former psychiatric nurse, and a group of around 20 volunteers, providing care for sick and injured hedgehogs in and around the Ryton area.
With the help of the £1000 donation and other fundraising, the ‘hogspital’ has been built and furnished, providing more space for the animals in the group’s care.
It includes the purchase and refurbishment of the outdoor building where the hedgehogs are treated, with new roofing and flooring added along with new insulation.
Hope for Hedgehogs receives referrals for care from the British Hedgehog Society, vets and the wider public, making the extra space incredibly important to the charity.
Mrs Lowe said: “I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do. It can be incredibly hard work but also so rewarding.
"We currently have an 81% success rate with the hedgehogs we care for, and last year we looked after 186 hedgehogs, so we are very proud of our work.
“Myself and the volunteers here at Hope for Hedgehogs absolutely love what we do and we’ve built a real community in the Ryton area and further afield.
"We are already looking at ways we can extend our care and our volunteers are currently taking on lots of extra training so we can meet the needs of the animals.
“We are so grateful for the support of Taylor Wimpey and their donation, which has allowed us to improve our facilities.”