Secure Our Future
IT’S TIME TO GROW - CAN YOU HELP US BUILD OUR NEW HOGSPITAL?
We are beginning to design and build our new Hogspital, a project which will secure our future and enable us to help many more hedgehogs than we do now. The finished hogspital will feature purpose built facilities including a triage room, intensive care unit, isolation facility, and a staff room for our team and volunteers to take their breaks (currently our back garden!).
The infrastructure of our existing premises is literally a residential back garden set-up of converted sheds and hutches, at the back of the home of our co-founder Diane. Believe it or not, we admitted 1,200 hedgehogs last year! At this point a larger bespoke building to operate out of isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore - it has become absolutely imperative.
ABOUT THE NEW HOGSPITAL
The new location is on the Carnanton estate, an ideal location for Prickles & Paws due to its quiet surroundings and excellent road access. Its low rent with a 25-year lease makes a very sustainable option.
This new premises will also enable us to expand our existing capacity for admissions, as well as education and volunteering opportunities.
We have worked with local Architectural Technologist Daren Thomas of A-Tec Design to develop an eco-friendly building design in line with our ethos, which incorporates bat boxes, a woodland glade, and water butts to collect rainwater.
The building will feature:
A reception area (no more completing paperwork at the gate in the rain!)
A triage room kitted out with veterinary equipment and microscope. All new admissions will be assessed here and receive initial treatment before being transferred to accommodation within the rescue.
Intensive care unit: dedicated space for our incubators and progression accommodation with supported heating.
Indoor hutch area, one within each building comprising of purpose built hutch systems made from recycled plastic. Used for hedgehogs in stable condition and receiving treatment.
Staff and meeting room with kitchen area for our team of volunteers.
Isolation area for our ringworm or infection cases.
Classroom: this will host larger meetings, workshops, educational and CPD sessions.
Utility room with washing machine and food preparation area (hog food, not human!).
One disabled toilet attached to the reception area and another standard toilet adjoining the classroom area.
COSTS AND TIMELINES
We have been quoted £300,000 for the project, and have a long way to go to reach this goal, but we know that we can do it with the help of our amazing supporters and followers! If we can reach the full amount by July then we could be looking at moving into the new facilities by Autumn!