Hedgehog First Response Unit, Monmouth including The Prickly Patch

08/06/2026

In the last week, we reached a milestone taking our 300th call on the First Response Line since it opened in 2024 for the Monmouth and Wye Valley area. Not all calls result in a rescue, but our records show we have carried out 259 rescues to date. That’s a lot of miles travelled and a lot of volunteer hours. Huge thanks to them, the public who ring us and are keeping an eye out for any hedgehogs in trouble, and of course to the marvellous rehabbers who have taken the hedgehogs in (including most recently our very own Prickly Patch).

We’re very much in peak season now and it may take our volunteers a little longer to call you back if they’re already out on a rescue, but we will always do our best to ring you as soon as we can. We try to keep our line open 7 days a week between 9am-7pm.

Here are some of the hedgehogs we’ve been called out to in the last week, including a little one found out in a field near farm machinery, several with severe fly strike, and two with dehydration and breathing difficulties. We were delighted also to release 'Cole' from Coleford who you may recall was found trapped in netting. He was kept in for a while to check for necrosis then approved for release by the rehab on Friday weighing a very chunky 1056g (he was 756g on admission). We wish him all the best as he lives his best life on the wild side 🦔🐾

03/06/2026

So pleased we could help with these little ones yesterday. As Archway Vets say, it's a great example of working together to help our wildlife 🦔🐾

03/06/2026

Great news! The Erinaceus europaeus 🦔 has made it on to the shortlist to be featured on the new series of UK banknotes.

Now all we need to do is get enough votes to make it happen.
You can cast your vote at: https://app.keysurvey.co.uk/f/41844465/6049/

🦔🐾🦔🐾

This survey is designed to be anonymous and does not collect personal data or information that allows for the identification of individuals.

02/06/2026

National Volunteers Week runs from 1st-7th June 2026 and is an opportunity for us to publicly thank all the volunteers involved in hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation across the UK, and specifically our own amazing volunteers with the Monmouth First Response Unit and The Prickly Patch.

You do an incredible job of supporting our prickly friends, and show such care and dedication in all that you do - from handling calls and providing transport, to triage, cleaning out hutches, attending events, social media, and helping fundraise.

There wouldn’t be a FRU or Prickly Patch without you, so please take a bow:

Carole, Catherine, Deborah, Donna, Gilly, James, Joanne, Jonathan, Lorraine L, Paula, Samantha, Sophie, Steve, and Yvonne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

31/05/2026

Our volunteers have been working hard through this spell of hot weather, with calls coming in to the FRU daily (in fact, we have one on the road in response to a call as we're writing this!), so huge thanks to them for their wonderful care and dedication 💚

We’ve been keeping our in-patients nice and cool in the centre, and pleased to say they are making good progress so far following specialist treatment for various conditions including lungworm, and dehydration.

A huge thank you to the other rehabbers in the area who have also taken in hedgehogs via the FRU – not all poorly or injured hogs will come to us, we try to minimise travel and stress for the hedgehogs, so will always endeavour to place them at the closest rescue centre to where they were found if space is available.

Recent FRU calls have included a hedgehog tangled up in netting; out in the day with fly strike; and possible internal injuries from being picked up a dog.

Although the hot spell has now come to an end, do please keep putting out fresh water daily, and be sure to check for hedgehogs (and other wildlife) before gardening. If you do disturb a nest, please ring us or your nearest rescue. Thank you 🦔🐾

25/05/2026

A huge thank you to Catbrook Memorial Hall for inviting us along to, and choosing us to be beneficiaries from, this year's amazing Plant Sale and teas - what a wonderful event. Doors opened promptly at 2:00pm and there was an amazing array of plants on sale along with much welcome refreshments, homemade cakes and ice-cream.

We didn't stop chatting the whole time to so many people and loved hearing the stories of hedgehogs, and even hoglets in local gardens. Thank you for your interest, kindness and generosity - it really does mean a lot. We know some of you have been following us from a bit of distance away but made the journey to come and say hello (and buy plants!) today, it was wonderful to see you. Thank you from the First Response Unit and Prickly Patch volunteers, and of course the hedgehogs 🦔🐾🦔🐾

25/05/2026

We’re all set up at the Catbrook Memorial Hall Annual Plant sale - doors open at 2pm and there’s a fantastic range of plants on sale, as well as tea, cake, and ice-creams. The hall is lovely and cool too!
Looking forward to seeing you there 🦔🐾🪴🪻🌱

24/05/2026

We've just found out that ice-creams will be on sale at the Catbrook Memorial Hall Plant Sale tomorrow... yay! 🍦🍦 Absolutely no excuses for not popping over now 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Busy afternoon setting up tables and receiving the first plants and cakes for tomorrow. Well done to those who baked in this hot weather, we have ice creams as well tomorrow but the Hall is blissfully cool!
You can deliver tomorrow morning 10.30 to 12 or bring with you at 2.
Don’t forget the sharpening van will be there from round 12 noon ready to rescue your blunt garden
tools!
See you tomorrow!

24/05/2026

Is there really such a thing as too many plants? We don't think so!

Pop along to the Catbrook Memorial Hall Annual Plant Sale and Teas, tomorrow afternoon from 2:00pm. A huge array of plants on sale along with gardening tools, eggs, and delicious tea and cake.

Huge thanks to the Catbrook Memorial Hall committee for choosing us as their charity beneficiary this year. Our volunteers will be there chatting all things hedgehogs and the simple things that can be done to help them survive and thrive 🦔🐾💚

Not keen on this hot weather? NP16 6NA is the postcode you need to come indoors and get some respite (and perhaps a few plants). Loving the sun? Same postcode for a gorgeous sunny walk, cup of tea and cake, and maybe even a plant or two! See you there!

23/05/2026

Please spare a thought for our wildlife during this spell of particularly hot weather. Putting out multiple shallow dishes of fresh water in shaded areas, leaving overgrown vegetation and log piles for shelter, and of course always checking for hedgehogs or other wildlife before you start any gardening work, but especially strimming and mowing.

If you have a hedgehog house, please ensure it is in a full shade spot, and don't be surprised if hedgehogs come out a little earlier than usual, but if you have any concerns please do call our First Response Unit on 01600 605125 or your nearest rescue. Thank you 🦔🐾💚