Animal lovers have been collecting food and money to help sick and underweight hedgehogs at a rescue centre in Medway.

The Medway Hedgehog Rescue was set up in March by mother-of-two Kelly Smith who now cares for 13 of the prickly creatures.

Mrs Smith, 38, said: “I’ve always been an animal lover and used to help out at the Fox Project charity and through that realised there was nothing in the Medway area helping hedgehogs.

“People don’t realise they are now an endangered species.

“Many people will often say they used to see hedgehogs in their garden, but don’t see them now and that’s why.

“They should be in our gardens and so I wanted to do what I could to help.”

So Mrs Smith set up the centre at her home in Brompton Lane, Strood, and looks after the creatures in a specially made heated shed helped by her 16-year-old daughter Tayla Rogers.

Mrs Smith added: “I’ve taken in 150 hedgehogs, half of whom were orphaned and were too small to hibernate so many have had to be hand reared.

“Others have come in with injuries like broken legs and have to be nursed back to health.

“I’ve seen a lot with strimmer injuries, quite often babies, and some have had to have amputations and are then disabled so these hedgehogs have to be
fostered out to people who will look after them in a secure garden.

“Out of the 150 I have managed to let 105 back out into the wild, which I think is a good figure.

“We release them in safe release sites but I have one, Amy, who is blind and so can’t be released back into the wild, so she is a resident here.

“Sometimes it’s been tough when a hedgehog has not pulled through, there have been lots of ups and downs, but it’s a good feeling to know I’ve released so many back into the wild.”

Tracey Poole, who lives in Hoo, went along to see Mrs Smith and was amazed at her efforts so decided to put some posters up in the village to appeal for food donations and was overwhelmed by the response.

She said people had donated cash as well as cat and dog meat, sultanas and peanuts.

“The villagers of Hoo have been so kind in helping Kelly and her hedgehogs I will be placing another poster in Taggs coffee shop in the village,” she added.

“I have also put them up in Crescent stores and the village hall and I post on the Hoo appreciation page on Facebook twice a week asking for more donations and I go to pick them up.”

Mrs Smith said: “I’m also always keen to hear from people who want to become fosterers for hedgehogs which can’t be released back into the wild.”

Call Mrs Smith on 07504 597454 or search Medway Hedgehog Rescue on Facebook