Solihull Council is now working closely with Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue to raise awareness about how to protect and rehabilitate hedgehogs during the winter season and beyond.
The Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue Centre was created by Alison White in early 2020 and she continues to run the rescue centre from a hand-built hedgehog hospital in her back garden. Alison and her group of committed volunteers are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing hedgehogs in and around the Solihull area.
Earlier this week, Councillor Mackiewicz met with Alison to help release two healthy hedgehogs – Horace and Acorn – that recovered in Alison’s care back into one of Solihull’s nature reserves.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue to help Solihull residents be more aware of these beloved garden visitors. During the winter there are many ways to help hedgehogs have a safe hibernation, including putting food and water out and providing safe homes for them to nest in like log piles or compost heaps.
“Alongside this partnership, we’re also introducing ‘Horace the Hedgehog’ to our park signs. We’re hoping Horace will help us to encourage people to care for hedgehogs and communicate a range of other safety and sustainability messages too.”
Alison said:
“We welcome the support of Solihull Council in highlighting our work and raising awareness of how to help hedgehogs. Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue relies on the dedication of our hard-working volunteers and is completely funded by generous donations from the public. By taking small steps to make your garden hedgehog friendly and contacting us if you find an unwell or injured hedgehog, we can all work together to protect hedgehogs from decline.”
Hedgehogs can really benefit from extra food as a supplement to their natural diet, especially as the insect population continues to be reduced by agricultural intensification and pesticide use. Meaty cat or dog food and hedgehog food are suitable. You can also put out water for hedgehogs to drink.
Hedgehogs usually hibernate between November through to mid-March, but they can sometimes be seen out and about during this period changing nesting sites. It is unusual to see a hedgehog staggering around during winter or in daylight.
If you see a hedgehog that looks distressed, unwell or out about during the day contact Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue using the contact information available on their website. Outside of Solihull, you can contact The British Hedgehog Preservation Society to find the nearest rescue to you. If a hedgehog is injured and urgent intervention is clearly required, please take the hedgehog to your nearest vet as soon as possible.
You can find out more about Solihogs by visiting https://solihogs.co.uk and following them on Facebook. Visit the Your Future Solihull page to find more ways to support Solihull Council’s climate change and sustainability campaign: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/your-future-solihull