Secure Our Future
IT’S TIME TO GROW - CAN YOU HELP US BUILD OUR NEW HOGSPITAL?
We are in the process of building our new Hogspital, a project which will secure our future and enable us to help many more hedgehogs than we do now. The finished hogspital will feature purpose built facilities including a triage room, intensive care unit, isolation facility, and a staff room for our team and volunteers to take their breaks (currently our back garden!).
The infrastructure of our existing premises is literally a residential back garden set-up of converted sheds and hutches, at the back of the home of our co-founder Diane. Believe it or not, we admitted over 1,400 hedgehogs last year! At this point a larger bespoke building to operate out of isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore - it has become absolutely imperative.
ABOUT THE NEW HOGSPITAL
The new location is on the Carnanton estate, an ideal location for Prickles & Paws due to its quiet surroundings and excellent road access. Its low rent with a 25-year lease makes a very sustainable option.
This new premises will also enable us to expand our existing capacity for admissions, as well as education and volunteering opportunities.
We have worked with local Architectural Technologist Daren Thomas of A-Tec Design to develop an eco-friendly building design in line with our ethos, which incorporates bat boxes, a woodland glade, and water butts to collect rainwater.
Scroll down for a 2025 update!
The building will feature:
A reception area (no more completing paperwork at the gate in the rain!)
A triage room kitted out with veterinary equipment and microscope. All new admissions will be assessed here and receive initial treatment before being transferred to accommodation within the rescue.
Intensive care unit: dedicated space for our incubators and progression accommodation with supported heating.
Indoor hutch area, one within each building comprising of purpose built hutch systems made from recycled plastic. Used for hedgehogs in stable condition and receiving treatment.
Staff and meeting room with kitchen area for our team of volunteers.
Isolation area for our ringworm or infection cases.
Classroom: this will host larger meetings, workshops, educational and CPD sessions.
Utility room with washing machine and food preparation area (hog food, not human!).
One disabled toilet attached to the reception area and another standard toilet adjoining the classroom area.
2025 PROJECT UPDATE
Work done so far
Planning permission approved
Site cleared
25-year lease agreed and signed, effective from January 2025
Water and electricity supplies brought onto site
Foundations installed for both buildings
Next phase – Building A construction
Funding is now in place for fencing, drainage connections and the erection of Building A. The builders (Warvena Construction) are due on site from April 2025 to progress with the next stage of the works. We are continuing to raise funds for the fit-out, car parking and landscaping works.
Building A will include:
· General hedgehog ward
· Intensive care ward
· Outdoor, undercover maternity hutches
· Outdoor, undercover pre-release hutches
· Triage and veterinary room
· Staff and meeting room
· Reception area
· Disabled access WC
Surface drainage and septic tank facilities will be installed.
The site will be fenced for security and to keep the deer out.
There will be car parking for staff, volunteers and visitors.
Environmental features will include native hedgerows, a wildflower meadow, log pile and bat boxes.
Solar panels are proposed to cut our energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint.
Main contractor appointed – Warvena Construction Limited https://warvenaconstruction.co.uk/
John Lewis, P&P CEO met Adam Smith, Director of Warvena on site on Tuesday 4th March to get the build started.
The next phase of work will begin during April 2025 with site fencing, pile caps and the building base.
Building A is scheduled to be complete and fitted out by the end of 2025 so that P&P can move in during January to February 2026, the quietest time of the year for hedgehog admissions.
This new building will allow all existing operations to be relocated under one roof.
The building will provide a more modern and professional environment for the rescue. It will provide far more spacious and comfortable working conditions for staff and volunteers and allow us to offer more volunteering opportunities including gardening and grounds maintenance tasks as well as hedgehog care.
Phase two: Building B
Once Building A is fully funded and up and running, we will press on with fundraising for Building B which will give us:
· A further general ward
· Isolation ward
· More outdoor hutch space
· Large teaching area/meeting room
· Utility room
· Additional WC
Building B will enable us to double our intake of hedgehogs, increase volunteering and work placement opportunities and offer more onsite educational and training opportunities for volunteers, students and veterinary professionals.
The target date for the completion of Building B is Spring 2027.
Hogspital Sponsors
Star Linen Hire
