While at the 50th Pudsey Allotments and Cottage Gardeners Association Spring Flower show in Pudsey Parish Church, community reporter Damon Sugden caught up with the founder of a new hedgehog rescue that has quietly taken root in Pudsey.
Thanks to a lot of dedication and training, local resident Kim Hopkins, has turned her passion for wildlife into action.
After recognising the need for more local support for injured and displaced hedgehogs, Kim has launched Prickle Patch Hedgehog Rescue. Although small-scale for now, her mission is already making a difference.
“I’ve been trained by Dale at Milford hogs and I’m also under supervision from The Hedgehoggery in Shipley,” Kim explained. “It’s important to do this properly. Hedgehogs are declining and need the right care to recover and be released safely.”
Working alongside a supportive network of experienced rescuers, Kim is combining her teaching career with her rescue work. She’s already begun treating and rehabilitating hogs, recently releasing two healthy hedgehogs back into the wild.
“The aim is to eventually have a proper shed space and more equipment,” Kim said. “For now, I’m relying on community support and my own resources.”
And the community has stepped up. A growing number of followers on social media have already donated to help get Prickle Patch off the ground, contributing towards food, medical supplies and shelter.
If you find a hedgehog out in the day or in distress, Kim encourages you to get in touch via the Prickle Patch Hedgehog Rescue Facebook page. “They’re nocturnal, so if you see one in daylight, it could be a sign something’s wrong,” she advises. “Just keep it safe and give it some water — no milk though! That can really harm them.”
She also warns against feeding mealworms, peanuts or dairy. “People think they’re being kind, but those foods can actually cause serious health issues. The safest options are cat or dog food and water,” she said.
Though modest in scale now, Prickle Patch is clearly a labour of love — and it’s growing, one little hog at a time.
Thanks to Kim at Prickle Patch Hedgehog Rescue and supervised by the wider rescue network in West Yorkshire for supporting our local wildlife:
Milford Hedgehogs
The Hedgehoggery
Hedgehog Emergency Rescue, Bingley Yorkshire (HERBY)
Phone: 07436 126357. Email: pricklepatchpudsey@outlook.com. TicTok.
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