Brightlingsea hedgehog rescuer wants signs to prevent injuries
A kind-hearted volunteer who has nursed hundreds of poorly hedgehogs back to health hopes signage to prevent more of the species being injured will be installed in her town.Vicky Pudney set up her Brightlingsea Hedgehog Highways Rescue Facebook group after spotting a tiny hedgehog roaming the Essex town a few years ago.She said she had looked after hundreds of the spiky species in her makeshift hedgehog hospital in her garden, including more than 60 last year.The animal lover said she had discussed her idea for street signs - warning drivers that hedgehogs could be on the road - with town councillors.
She hopes Essex Highways will support the initiative and the authority has been invited to comment.Road traffic accidents were "one of the biggest" reasons hedgehogs needed her care, she explained.Ms Pudney, 50, said she could provide care for up to 15 of these spiny mammals at a time. Some stay for weeks or months until they are healthy enough to survive in the wild, she says."That can be quite a lot of work as they're quite complex little creatures."
She is currently caring for Dingle who came to her in December after being found in a back garden weighing less than an apple at just 272g (9.6oz) and missing most of his spikes while suffering with two skin diseases.Now, almost six months on and having increased his weight by four times to 1.2kg (2.6lb), Ms Pudney hopes Dingle will return to where he was found in the next week."He's regrown his spines lovely. I'm just waiting for the last batch to grow because until he has his spines, he can't protect himself against any predators," she said.
Ms Pudney runs the service while also volunteering at a local cat rescue and for the charity Cats Protection.She said she had received extra training from a veterinary nurse."I soon realised that Brightlingsea has got a really healthy population of hedgehogs, particularly in certain areas," she continued.She said donations helped her look after the hedgehogs, adding: "It does cost a lot of money."She thanked the many volunteers who helped put food and water out around the town for the hedgehogs.
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Essex pupils to learn in a former train carriage
Students will be welcomed aboard a new classroom that used to be a train carriage in a former decommissioned carriage was moved to a playground at Upshire Primary Foundation School in Waltham Abbey, Essex, and was being were given a sneak peek at the revamp of the first-class section ahead of its official opening at the end of teacher Ross Jones, 44, said it was originally going to be turned into a library but was instead transformed into a classroom that could also be used as a community hub around lessons. The train carriage was donated to the school just before the pandemic and has undergone extensive chairs were ripped out to make it an open learning space, and a kitchen and toilet were also Jones said pupils were accustomed to learning outside, and he hoped to also turn the carriage into a quiet area for students during said students and staff are "absolutely desperate to get on there" and added: "It's taken quite a long time and a lot of dedicated hard work."It just looks amazing. One of the things for me was that it needs to still look like a train." A student from the school, Amy said: "It's really nice to have somewhere to learn in because it's a nice open said: "I feel very thankful to the people who did this. "I really like this train, and I think it was a good choice to get said: "I think it is really good because it is really different to our normal classrooms."The headteacher said he would not be able to give the exact amount the work cost, but he said the figure was around tens of thousands of pounds. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
Lidl's cooling pillow is £30 cheaper than John Lewis – it cures back pain, is skin-friendly & perfect for side sleepers
LIDL has the perfect item for those who are struggling to sleep through the summer heat. The handy product will keep the temperature down and your body relaxed while you snooze. Shoppers can get their hands on Livarno TopCool Neck Support Pillow for just £10.99. That's more than £30 cheaper than a similar product in John Lewis, with the product available from tomorrow. The pillow is made of TopCool micro-fine fabric which absorbs moisture from your body leaving your skin dry and comfortable. The cooling technology will be great for increased sweating during sleep when temperatures soar to 34C this weekend. The breathable and soft fabric also means it dries quickly, so you don't have to flip your pillow all night. The pillow's shape is adjusted for correct sleeping posture, encouraging your neck, shoulders and head to relax. It is perfect for those who prefer to sleep on their back or side, and want to bid goodbye to neck soreness in the morning. Although at 50x36cm it is smaller than a standard pillow size, the Livarno pillow comes with its own cover with a zip. The cover can be easily removed and washed at 60C. According to The Sleep Charity 16°C-18°C is ideal for a good night's sleep, but if your bedroom temperature is over 24°C you're more likely to wake up. Met Eireann confirm 22C heat to blast this weekend as spots with 'best chance of sunshine' pinpointed Using a lighter tog duvet (or even a sheet), a home fan with a quiet setting and opening your windows to let air circulate all help keep your room cool as you rest. More Lidl Bargains You can also pick up Livarno Home Double TopCool Duvet to go with your pillow at Lidl. Designed to keep you cool and comfy, the £10.99 duvet features a micro-fine cover that cleverly regulates moisture and body temperature. It's ideal for double beds, with a soft and fluffy polyester filling that still feels cosy without the stifling heat The bargain supermarket is also selling the Silvercrest Local Air Conditioner which is bound to keep you super cool all summer long. The handy gadget also works as a dehumidifier and ventilator and can be easily moved throughout the house thanks to its wheels and recessed side grips. It also automatically oscillates, meaning your whole room will be cooled, and has two different fan speeds, depending on how much you need cooling down. Priced at £149.00, the fan comes with a three-year warranty and has a 24-hour-digital timer function. It is also £180 cheaper than the, which costs £329 from Curry's.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Carrie Johnson admitted to hospital over 'severe dehydration'
Carrie Johnson - the wife of former prime minister Boris Johnson - has revealed she was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration, as she offered advice to other breastfeeding mothers in the hot weather. Mrs Johnson, 37, posted a picture of herself and her newborn daughter Poppy Eliza Josephine on Friday in a hospital bed. "Being hospitalised for two nights for severe dehydration was not on my postpartum bingo card," she captioned the Instagram post. Mrs Johnson urged other "breastfeeding mums" to make sure they eat and drink enough "in this heat", especially those who are "clusterfeeding". Poppy was born on 21 May, becoming the couple's fourth child after their son Frank, born in July 2023, daughter Romy, born in December 2021, and son Wilfred, born in April 2020. In a separate Instagram story, Mrs Johnson described an "honestly brutal week". "Mastitis (me), reflux (her), dehydration (me). What a pair we are!," she said. "But thank you for all the kind messages, especially all the brilliant advice on reflux. Really appreciate it and made me feel way less alone going thru (sic) it all. And as ever, thanks to our amazing NHS." The NHS recommends drinking plenty of fluids while breastfeeding - and avoiding caffeine and alcohol to stop their effects being passed on to the baby. Having a drink nearby when mothers stop to feed is advised, as is water, lower-fat milk, and low-sugar drinks. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert for the next four days. Although not a public weather warning, it advises health and social care organisations of possible dangers to their patients and facilities. Temperatures could reach 34C on Monday - with a 20% chance of beating the hottest June day on record of 35.6C from 1976. The likelihood of record-breaking temperatures could increase over the weekend as the day approaches.
