A Cubert hedgehog charity has issued an urgent plea for donations during its busiest November on record.

Prickles and Paws is fundraising for a new hedgehog hospital, which will over double the rescues capacity.

Admissions have increased dramatically compared to this time last year 2022, putting pressure on the rescue. 

The charity has experienced an unexpected influx of hedgehogs and hoglets following 130 new patients already in November.

Last November saw just 115 admissions, which has already been exceeded with weeks yet to go.

Prickles & Paws has been fundraising hard for a new hedgehog hospital or “Hogspital” since January to help it to cope with ever-rising numbers of injured hedgehogs and hoglets.   

Co-founder and nnimal care and operations manager Katy South said: “We outgrew our present residential premises some time ago, and each year we receive ever increasing numbers of hedgehog admissions. 

“We are currently operating out of the back garden of a residential home, with converted sheds in place of purpose-built facilities, and the recent increase in numbers means we are all really feeling the pressure. 

“As a non-profit charity we are completely reliant on donations and grants, and we desperately need the continued support of our local community to help us make this next step and to ensure that we never have to turn a sick or injured hedgehog away. 

“The new Hogspital, which is 50% of the way towards being fully funded, will over double the capacity of the rescue, allowing hundreds more to receive care each year. 

“People have already been so generous in helping us and we are incredibly grateful, but we must ask again for donations – Cornwall’s hedgehog population depends upon it.”

The local community has thrown its support behind the new Hogspital project, raising 50% of the necessary funding in just ten months. 

The new Hogspital will enable the charity to expand its operations and improve levels of care for hedgehogs in Cornwall and beyond. 

The new building will provide Prickles & Paws with much-needed extra space – four times the floor space its current residential set-up allows – plus a dedicated triage room and intensive care room. The groundworks are already completed, with the foundations of the building underway. 

In addition to making donations, people can also help hedgehogs in their own back gardens, by creating hedgehog highways or hog holes to allow access to their garden,  leaving piles of leaves and areas to grow wild as well as placing out a dish of water.

The charity also operates a gift shop from which proceeds are reinvested into the charity, so people can also help hedgehogs by purchasing Christmas gifts and other items.

Prickles & Paws has gained more than 24,000 social media followers and attracted the support of patrons including model and TV celebrity Lucie Donlan and BBC Earth Presenter Hannah Stitfall.

The charity not only provides care for hedgehogs but is also very active in the local community, bringing people together to volunteer, offering educational talks and work placement opportunities. 

Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit https://www.pricklesandpaws.org/donate