A family run Charity looking after British Wild Hedgehogs. Based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Founded in April 2015.
HELP US BY VOLUNTEERING
We would appreciate your help. There are a number of ways you can assist us to help ensure the hedgehogs we've saved get the best possible chance upon release back into the wild. You can also support us by volunteering in other areas or with a local release site.
PLEASE NOTE: The majority (not all) of the ways you can help us through volunteering require you to be local to Harpenden in Hertfordshire or have transport and are willing to drive.
REGISTER TO BECOME A LOCAL HEDGEHOG FOSTERER
Once rescue hedgehogs are medically stable and no longer taking medication, they can continue to gain weight in the care of one of our hedgehog fosterers until they are ready to be released back in to the wild. This also helps Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary free up some much-needed space for hedgehogs which need more intensive care.
There are two peak times of the year for hedgehog fostering. During the spring and summer months we rescue most of the orphaned hoglets (usually 4 weeks foster duration). During the winter months we rescue underweight hedgehogs (usually 1-3 months foster duration).
REGISTER TO BECOME A LOCAL RELEASE SITE
Once rescue hedgehogs are medically stable, no longer taking medication and at a decent weight for the time of year, they can be released back into the wild.
This is the best part of our job, seeing the hedgehogs we have cared for be released back into their natural environment. We have many release sites that are local to us which we release hedgehogs into that had come from rescues in dangerous, or unsuitable locations (such as in a road or a car park). These hedgehogs are released back to the same area but not the same spot. We release them into a local hedgehog release site. Either an urban or rural site and on occasion into a secure garden (for disabled hedgehogs).
REGISTER TO HELP US BY VOLUNTEERING
We often have opportunities for volunteers to get directly involved with helping us. We have volunteers who help us with looking after the hedgehogs, with educational talks and group visits, with stalls, awareness campaigns, maintaining buildings used for the hedgehogs and other smaller projects, and more.
Once we are in need of help, we will contact those that have registered their interest. This may be straight away or a few months away. If you have a keen interest in hedgehogs why not register your interest.
FRIENDS OF THE HEDGEHOGS
We have had so many people help support us over the years and we would like to thank you all. Your love for our work is incredible. There are a few individuals and companies that have helped us which we would like to thank, please head over to the Roll of Hedgehog Friends.
![Colvin Decides He Needs A Scratch Before Supper [Night Action] - Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sSizP0VL2rg/hqdefault.jpg)
![Colvin Tucks In To His Supper [Night Action] - Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P9RJOfZRgjE/sddefault.jpg)
