Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, congratulated Joan Lockley who runs the West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue Centre as she is honoured for her work by TV wildlife presenter Bill Oddie and the International Fund for Animal Welfare at the House of Lords this week.
Joan Lockley from Cheslyn Hay, set up the West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue 15 years ago after saving her first hedgehog, Spike. She has since set up the charity which cares and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs across the Midlands and has since gone on to rescue more than 5,000 to date.
The majority of the hoglets are cared for in the purpose-built ‘Hedgehog Hosprickal’ in her back garden, but when this is full, Joan will also nurse additional patients in her house. Baby hedgehogs require regular two-hourly feeds of special milk from a syringe making her job an almost a round-the-clock mission.
The charity relies completely on public donations and now has a small team of volunteers who attend local events to spread the word about Joan’s work and the plight of the British hedgehog which faces many threats including road accidents, poisoning by pesticides, litter and habitat loss. Joan also gives many talks herself.
Philip Mansbridge, UK Director of IFAW, said: “Joan’s dedication to hedgehog rescue is a great example of animal welfare in action. Her efforts to save and protect one of our much loved but often threatened British mammals are an inspiration to others. She is a very deserving winner of IFAW’s Hedgehog Rescue Award.”
Joan said: “My work really began with Spike when he wandered into my garden underweight and hungry. I fed him but could tell something wasn’t right. As I started asking other carers for advice and finding out more about hedgehogs and their needs I just fell in love with them. Spike survived and was successfully released and next I took on a litter of orphaned babies; they survived too and the rest is history. I can’t really say what it is about hedgehogs but I do seem to have an affinity with them. Rolling into their defensive ball can make it hard for vets and others to treat them but with me they will usually just uncurl.
Commenting on Joan’s award Gavin said: “I am extremely proud of the work that Joan does and it was brilliant to see her receiving her award in the House of Lords earlier this week. Being the only official hedgehog carer in the Midlands, hedgehogs are brought to her from far and wide and she completely dedicates her life to caring for them. I have been a visitor at many of her open days where she fundraises for the Hedgehog Rescue Centre. I am so pleased that the IFAW have recognised her efforts it was a pleasure to see her receive the award.”