The Secret Life of Hedgehogs 12/4/10

The Withington Hedgehog Trust under the very able leadership of Barbara Roberts, the founder of the Trust, was the guest speaker at tonight's events. She was not alone! With her she brought a standard British hedgehog, a pygmy hedgehog and an albino hedgehog, the latter being a very rare breed and a breed which we may not have a chance again to see in our lifetimes. Barbara was a very warm speaker and engaged with her audience straightaway. Her personality and love for these little creatures shone through right from the start and her delivery was so humourous she had us in fits of laughter many times throughout the evening. We had about 20-24 in attendance and the room was really packed out. To start off the evening, we had a special presentation of a cheque of £1,000 donated to us by the Duchy of Lancaster's Deputy, Vivien Carter. Vivien and her partner, Michael, have followed MTVCA with interest and are a great encouragement to us so it was really good to have them with us. The evening was packed full of information - everything you would need to know about hedgehogs from a very experienced lady who was passionate about this lovely creatures. The mood moved from laughter to almost tears throughout the evening as she told us of how hedgehogs which she had rescued had been mistreated by youths and of how pygmy hedgehogs, (natives of South Africa) were not being bred and sold in our pet shops for upwards of £50. In order to improve their lives, Barbara purchases them from these shops and cares for them at her home. She has somewhere between 300 and 350 hedgehogs presently. As a registered Charity is very dependent on donations as veterinary bills are high and Barbara has expensive bills for food and equipment she needs. She is extremely hard working and only she and Hannah, her friend who attended the evening with her, attend to the hedgehogs in their care. A round-the-clock job! Everyone was well informed and well entertained at the end of the evening. A really lovely and worth while evening. Hog news items 1 Hog news items 2 Hedgehog Hotel Vivien Carter presents the cheque to Jean the treasurer. Brian and Jean happily accept the cheque. Vivien Carter with Jean Lythgoe (Treasurer) and Brian Stringer (Chairman). Barbara Roberts our guest speaker from the Withington Hedgehog Trust begins her talk. The audience listens intently. The event filled the room to capacity. Barbara shows off her oldest resident,a British standard hedgehog. A close up of the hedgehog. Hannah,Barbara's volunteer assistant presents the hedgehog to the audience. William,our youngest,and most inquisitive visitor looks on. All of the hedgehogs have pristine regularly cleaned homes with pink fleeces! Barbara also had a pygmy hedgehog, originally from South Africa but bred in the pet trade, much to Barbara's dissatisfaction as the pygmy does not do well in the UK. A close up of the pygmy. Just when we thought they could not be any smaller - a photo of a baby hedgehog. Hannah shows the hedgehog to the audience. Barbara brings out Snowy the albino hedgehog. Albino hedgehogs are extremely rare and we were told this could be the only one we would ever see. Snowy was so called because of being found at Christmas. William takes away souvenirs of the evening.