Rotary gift will help to save hedgehogs

Saddleworth Rotary president Clint Elliott is pictured with Susan Ashworth

Conservation-loving Saddleworth Rotary Club have gifted £250 to a local woman fighting to save hedgehogs.

Susan Ashworth runs a hedgehog rescue at Hog Manor in Delph, and told the club in the last 50 years hedgehog numbers in Britain had reduced from around 30 million to one million in 2019. 

She said their plight is almost entirely down to human action as they have very few native predators.

Loss of habitat is a key factor but getting run over, stuck in netting or fencing and being injured or killed by a garden strimmer are amongst some of the main causes of injury and death that has over time had such a devastating effect on hedgehog numbers.  

Susan, a retired nurse, has been operating the hedgehog rescue for around five years and, in addition to taking courses in wild animal welfare, she has gained considerable experience in working with hedgehogs. 

Her aim is to release rescued hedgehogs back into the wild once they have sufficiently recovered to be able to fend for themselves and so enhance numbers over time.

Her role is entirely voluntary and, as well as having to commit significant time to the centre, there are cost associated with food, cleaning equipment and medications.

Clint Elliott, the Rotary club president, who visited the centre, said: ”It can usually take around 30 to 40 hedgehogs, but Susan is reluctant to turn any away, hoping that if she cannot find space other rescue centres nearby may be able to help.

“Initially, the time Susan spoke to club members she had 17 animals in her care, but less than two weeks later when I visited Hedgehog Manor the number had risen to 30.

“After discovering so much about the plight of these delightful animals, our members agreed to donate £250 to help the cost of saving hedgehogs locally and in appreciation of the time and effort Susan puts into this very worthwhile and rewarding venture.”

Susan thanked Rotary for the generous donation and said: "The centre relies heavily on the kind donations of local people to continue the work of helping these fascinating and delightful animals survive.”

Clint added: "Club members really enjoyed learning about hedgehogs from Susan, who is clearly dedicated to these animals.

"It has been a pleasure to help in this small way.”

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