A new fundraising appeal has been launched to build a hogspital in St Mawgan, which will enable a charity to help many more hedgehogs from across the South West.

Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue has started a Crowdfunder to build the premises at Carnanton Estate.

The local community has thrown its support behind the new hogspital, raising 40 per cent of the necessary funding in three months and more than 90 grants have been submitted.

But the Cubert-based charity needs to raise £2,000 to prepare the ground, bring in utilities and put in the foundations for new hogspital in readiness for the build this summer.

The new building will provide the Prickles & Paws with much-needed extra space, four times the amount that its current residential set-up allows, plus a dedicated triage room and intensive care room.

Prickles & Paws has secured its first corporate sponsor for the hogspital, SEE Reward, who are sponsoring the new classroom in the hogspital where the Prickles & Paws team will be educating the community about wildlife conservation and biodiversity. 

Nik Butcher, company co-founder, said: “As a born and raised “city boy”, I remember when I was a lot younger, when every back garden had a hedgehog in it.

“Sadly that’s not the case anymore, and without people like the team and Prickles & Paws, we could see one of our cutest natural species dwindle even more. 

“The work they do, and will continue to do, is essential to preserve the hedgehog population in Cornwall and the South West, and we are proud to support them as they develop their new site, helping even more Hedgehogs survive and thrive in the wild.”

Prickles & Paws co-founder Katy South said: “This time last year the hogspital was still a pipe-dream. 

“We outgrew our current residential location some time ago and 2022 was particularly challenging with the highest admission rates we had ever seen. 

“At one point we had 134 injured hedgehogs and abandoned hoglets on site at the same time. I am incredibly grateful for all of the support from the local community who have displayed such care and compassion for wildlife. 

“I would also like to thank our first corporate sponsor SEE Rewards for their kindness. I would urge any other local businesses who are considering enhancing their corporate social responsibility programmes to get in touch; sponsorship of a room in the hospital includes a raft of benefits including marketing exposure and their branding on the room sign – a lasting legacy to their generosity.”

Prickles & Paws is a much-loved charity in Cubert, which has gained over 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.