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Our Aim is to provide, Rescue, Rehabilitation & Re-release, and Education
for wild European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). All articles and suggestions are to do with this particular breed and not other introduced breeds.

The project started in our back garden after we were told of an orphaned baby hedgehog, who we called Spike. Because there was a bird flu scare on at the time, there was no one in the area who could actually take the poor creature in. So Kimberley (our daughter) sat keeping the baby warm in a towel in one hand, whilst searching the internet with her mom Lynn, to find out all they could to care for the baby.
Spike responded well to our care and started gaining weight and then further hedgehogs started turning up, and also being collected from the roadside in one instance. We received invaluable help, advice and assistance from many source's (too many to mention in this space - but you know who you are) and Spike was released to a 10 acre green field and forest site, with a group of other rescued hedgehogs nearly 7 months after we found her, weighing nearly a kilo and very feisty, with attitude to match. Hence our logo reflects her stance and attitude. She still returns once in a while to the feeding station set up on site. We were then lucky enough to be recipients of two albino hedgehogs, which hit the headlines when the local and national press and this generated a huge amount of interest. From this, we then were given the generous offer of space at Myhill’s Nursery and Garden Centre at Fritton, just outside Great Yarmouth. We have been working on this site to prepare it for use, and have now got a secured compound and secured planning permission to erect sheds which we can fit out as an Education centre, Intensive Care Unit, General housing and Weathering housing. We also have a crew room and office on site as well as a reception for visitors to come and see what we do and to arrange talks etc. We have also now been asked if we would take over the care of the entrance area where a wildlife pond is currently under construction. This will all eventually be open to schools and the public to visit and find out about more wildlife in our area. We welcome volunteer helpers as well, so make yourself known when you visit. Age is no limit.

We operate as a non profit making organisation, limited by Guarantee, as we can keep control of what is happening to the animals and centre, so we rely on donations and fundraising to be able to continue this much needed work. Our Company Number is 06581665 and all written correspondence should be addressed to Spikes Wildlife Aid Trust, at 8 Potters Drive, Hopton on Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. NR31 9RW. We cannot accept mail sent to the centre at Myhill’s Nursery, Fritton.
The Hedgehog in most areas is in high decline, partly due to more intensive farming methods, and removal of it's natural habitats. We are also getting more all year round, as the changes in weather have been causing the breeding cycles to become extended and they don’t make very good parents.

The site is open to all and we welcome visitors (We do appreciate a call if your bringing a large group though please).
We can also arrange specific educational visit to our site, which will eventually include a Wildlife Garden centre where Education groups can also take part in Pond dipping and Wildlife Observations within the curriculum of the UK schools directive.

We also aim to be accessible to all abilities, both able and disabled groups. Our goal is to educate and make people of all ages aware of the plight and help that this much maligned British Mammal is placed under. We have both fit and disabled residents, some of which can unfortunately never be released back to the wild due to their injury or condition.

These residents are housed in as much as can be achieved, a wild setting to allow them to live out their normal life span and have the support of our care staff who help these charges. We do release programs at regular intervals all over the country, due to the very kind offers of release sites. We are always looking for more, so please let us know if you think you can help in this respect.