Back when I lived in Surbiton I spent every Monday for 18 months volunteering at Wildlife Aid, feeding adorable fox cubs, weighing prickly hedgehogs and releasing tiny mice, it was an amazing experience. I had to give it up when I moved down to Longleat, but then I had much bigger furries with teeth and claws to keep me entertained.
However, I soon realised that I missed the little ones, the tiny whiskers of a baby mouse, the noisy ca caw of a hungry magpie, and most of all, the little black nose and eyes of the cutest hedgehog. Working with big cats may have been something I'd always dreamed of, and will always be one of the most incredible experiences I've had, but I still missed getting close to our own wildlife.
But one hoggy changed all that. Whilst on a first aid course in December we found a tiny hedgehog, too small to be hibernating, desparately searching for food in the middle of a cold day. I had to do something, so we bundled him into a warm box and he came home with me. He eagerly tucked into some fresh food and I immediately fell in love, but he couldnt stay. I couldnt keep a hedgehog in my bedroom! So I hunted down my nearest wildlife rescue charity and after a couple of nights with me he went off to his new home.
The rescue, known as Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, was a hedgehog haven, they had over 150 hedgehogs to care for over the winter. I got chatting to Marilyn, who ran the rescue with her husband and expressed my interest in volunteering. She was extremely lovely and even more animal crazy than me! So in January I returned to the world of volunteering at a wildlife rescue.
I now spend one day a week helping with mucking out the dozens of hedgehogs in their care, including the little fellow I brought in! He has really grown and its great to know he has made it through the winter. I have even been sent on a couple of rescue missions, I collected a bat and checked out an injured swan.
Its great to offer my time and help out with such a wonderful rescue. They are a dedicated team and Marilyn spends 7 days a week rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife. I thoroughly recommend volunteering at your nearest wildlife rescue, your time and effort is what can make a difference to these animals.
However, I soon realised that I missed the little ones, the tiny whiskers of a baby mouse, the noisy ca caw of a hungry magpie, and most of all, the little black nose and eyes of the cutest hedgehog. Working with big cats may have been something I'd always dreamed of, and will always be one of the most incredible experiences I've had, but I still missed getting close to our own wildlife.
But one hoggy changed all that. Whilst on a first aid course in December we found a tiny hedgehog, too small to be hibernating, desparately searching for food in the middle of a cold day. I had to do something, so we bundled him into a warm box and he came home with me. He eagerly tucked into some fresh food and I immediately fell in love, but he couldnt stay. I couldnt keep a hedgehog in my bedroom! So I hunted down my nearest wildlife rescue charity and after a couple of nights with me he went off to his new home.
The rescue, known as Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, was a hedgehog haven, they had over 150 hedgehogs to care for over the winter. I got chatting to Marilyn, who ran the rescue with her husband and expressed my interest in volunteering. She was extremely lovely and even more animal crazy than me! So in January I returned to the world of volunteering at a wildlife rescue.
I now spend one day a week helping with mucking out the dozens of hedgehogs in their care, including the little fellow I brought in! He has really grown and its great to know he has made it through the winter. I have even been sent on a couple of rescue missions, I collected a bat and checked out an injured swan.
Its great to offer my time and help out with such a wonderful rescue. They are a dedicated team and Marilyn spends 7 days a week rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife. I thoroughly recommend volunteering at your nearest wildlife rescue, your time and effort is what can make a difference to these animals.
