About us

Katy holds a research master’s focused on hedgehogs and has published three peer‑reviewed scientific papers. She oversees all aspects of hedgehog care, coordinates veterinary provision, and manages the charity’s social media presence.

Diane has a background in education (BEd Hons) and over 15 years’ experience as a school governor. Alongside serving as a trustee, she leads on hoglet care and supports the day‑to‑day rehabilitation of hedgehogs.

Emma has a degree in English Literature and a diploma in Zoology and Conservation. She delivers talks on our work to a variety of groups and audiences as well as taking a lead in training and mentoring volunteers.

John holds a masters degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge, an MBA, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He put his retirement on pause to take up his role, bringing extensive finance and management experience to the charity.

Claire works part time during our busy periods helping volunteers, giving hedgehogs medication and ensuring our hedgehog care shifts run smoothly. She brings years of hedgehog care experience to the role.

It’s a family affair! Martin couldn’t say no to supporting the charity created by his wife and daughter. He is an integral part of the rescue pitching in wherever needed and doing many of the late night hoglet feeds, vet trips, collections and maintenance.

St Clement Veterinary Clinic are our lead veterinary provider. Head vet Chris Gardner brings a wealth of wildlife experience and knowledge.

David brings a mix of technical expertise. With a background in software development, data analytics, and automation His work, including the development of a record keeping app, helps staff and volunteers spend less time on admin and more time focused on the hedgehogs.

Sarah's background is in business & finance in both the NHS and Independent Schools, she moved from Northamptonshire to Cornwall in 2018 to work at Truro High School for Girls. She is looking forward to supporting our Charity and helping it develop and grow to cope with the ever increasing demand for our services.

"The work Prickles and Paws does is phenomenal. I hope I can bring knowledge and experience to the business management side of the Charity"

A solicitor advocate who holds a Higher Rights of Audience (Civil) certificate. She was a criminal prosecutor for nine years, a law lecturer for five years and has been practicing in commercial and data protection law for the past four years. Kristy helps us to navigate legal matters and ensures that we are compliant with relevant legislation and GDPR.

Daren has been involved with the construction industry for over 40 years, working on a wide range of projects as setting out engineer, structural technician and as an Architectural Technologist. Because of his interest in Architectural Technology, in 1996 Daren achieved membership of the ‘Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists’. In addition to this, he has been a Regional Monitoring Surveyor for a Structural Warranty provider for over 10 years and recently achieved the recognition of a Certified Passive House Designer, one of only 4 within the county of Cornwall!

With a keen interest in sustainability and energy efficient construction, Daren is fully trained in the use of the Passivhaus design software and prides himself in using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and construction methods where possible.

His other love is nature and wildlife and with a love of birds and mammals is enormously proud of A-Tec Design's working relationship with various charities over the years, including St Francis Home for Animals in Newquay, The Barn Owl Trust at Ashburton and of course Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue.

A-Tec Design were happy to aid with the planning application and building regulations drawings for the design of the site and the related works for the new Hogspital and Daren is hugely honoured to have recently been asked to become a member of the team as a Trustee in relation to the construction works.

Hannah has a varied background having worked in schools and local government in Oldham for over 15 years. Her previous roles have given her a wide range of experiences including Health and Safety, premises management and project management, as well as budget management, HR policy and complaints and customer service.
She moved from Manchester to Cornwall in 2022 and has been a regular Care Assistant volunteer at the rescue since October 2023. She is now looking forward to supporting Prickles and Paws strategically in her role as a Trustee.
"The work Prickles and Paws does is fantastic, and the new Hogspital will be a brilliant asset for the charity enabling them to expand their important work. I look forward to working strategically with them, and bringing knowledge and experience to the business and operational management side of the Charity"

After the help Prickles and Paws gave to a poorly hedgehog Sam discovered a few years ago, she offered her garden and fields as a hedgehog release site, then became a volunteer driver and now is a trustee too .  Following on from a twenty year career in the voluntary and community sector, both as a practitioner and then senior leader, with a particular interest in delivering excellent services and good governance,  Sam now divides her time between several freelance jobs including gardening, house management and driving a harbour patrol boat amongst others.  Not busy enough, she also is a volunteer on call for a local search and rescue team with specialist technical rescue skills and is a committee lay member at Falmouth University.

“I have been hugely impressed with the professionalism and the standard of care for both the hedgehogs and the charity with Prickles and Paws, and wished to support them as a trustee as they move on to this next chapter”

Hugh is a nationally-acclaimed environmental writer and ecologist with a particular fondness for hedgehogs.  An accomplished public speaker, Hugh regularly talks on conservation matters at events and in the broadcast media throughout the UK and Europe.  In 2025 he delivered a popular guest lecture for Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue at the Newquay University Centre.  We were delighted that, during his visit to Cornwall, Hugh agreed to be a patron of our charity.  Hugh is also spokesperson for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, a Visiting Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and a patron of Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

Hannah is a wildlife presenter/producer for BBC Earth, digital presenter on BBC Springwatch and a wildlife filmmaker with a 1st Class Zoology degree and Masters in Wildlife Filmmaking. Living just a few miles from us in Newquay, Hannah has championed our work, most recently with us featuring on Autumn Watch 2020!

Lucie is a local surfer, model and tv celebrity after featuring on the show Love Island. As a social influencer we are hugely excited to welcome her onboard to help us raise awareness around the decline of hedgehogs and what people can do to help them.

Better known as the Hairy Horticulturist Sam has helped us release many hedgehogs into the beautiful Lost Gardens of Heligan. Sam is renowned for his humorous take on fruit and vegetable growing, producing some weird and wonderful varieties and helping others with growing in their own gardens, businesses and allotments. We look forward to working with Sam and helping educate gardeners of what they can do to encourage hedgehogs, as well as remove potential hazards.

Kelly’s research and professional career has focused on British ecology, conservation and natural history. She is an active member of Cornwall Mammal Group and has runs the Prickles Project - an ongoing scheme run by students at University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in collaboration with local schools to monitor hedgehog populations and spread awareness on the importance of conserving wild hedgehogs in Cornwall.