Shropshire Star

Teenagers' help for hedgehogs

A group of teenagers are getting to grips with a prickly problem – they are working to build a new rescue shelter for sick and abandoned hedgehogs.

Published
The youngsters with staff at Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre

The team of 15 teenagers from Newport are hoping to create a much-needed second hedgehog shelter at Cuan Wildlife Rescue centre in Much Wenlock.

They are doing the project as part of the National Citizen Service scheme, a government backed project to encourage young people to do work in the community.

The youngsters, who are all aged 15 or 16, meet at Newport Scout Hut.

The are all pupils at Adams Grammar, Burton Borough or Newport Girls schools in Newport.

They are seeking to not only raise the £5,000 needed for the shelter, but also to oversee the building work on the project.

Rachel Naylor, 16, who goes to Newport Girls, said: "The National Citizen's Scheme encourages us to actually do something with the money, rather than simply handing it over to charity.

"We will be involved with the building of the shelter, and we have already been in talks with some builders about it."

Rachel said choosing the project was an easy decision to make after visiting Cuan Wildlife Rescue centre.

"We feel really passionately about animals, and we all wanted to help," she said.

"We saw the baby hedgehogs, and the shelter is really needed, they are struggling for space."

The group begins the fundraising effort with a coffee morning at Burton Borough School at 9.30am on Tuesday, which anybody is welcome to attend.

They have also planned a sunset sponsored walk up the Wrekin, where they will begin their ascent at 6.30pm on Wednesday, hoping to get to the top in time to watch the sun going down.

"We are also looking at doing a colour run as well," added Rachel.