A prickly kind of love: The woman behind Westhoughton’s hedgehog hospital

Hidden in a quiet corner of Westhoughton, The Hoggery is a place where tiny, prickly patients get a second chance. Inside, founder Jayne Schofield gently lifts a hedgehog from its enclosure—an injured newcomer named Christopher who, despite a stubborn case of ringworm, is steadily on the mend.

The Hoggery is the only dedicated hedgehog rescue in Bolton, committed to rescuing, treating, and releasing sick or injured hedgehogs while promoting wildlife welfare, education, and community engagement.

Founder Jayne Schofield began her journey into hedgehog rescue in 2019, after volunteering with local rehabilitator Maz from Hog Haven. Reflecting on those early days, Jayne recalls saying to Maz, “Let me know if you need any help.” Little did she know that one day, she would become the rescue herself.

Today, The Hoggery is run by Jayne and her dedicated team of volunteers, affectionately known as the Hoggery Ambulance Crew. Their mission is simple: to get hedgehogs healthy and back into the wild as quickly as possible.

Jayne recalls the stories of two recent rescues, Herbert and Christopher. Herbert arrived after impaling himself on a rake, suffering from abscesses and a hernia, and needed extensive one-on-one care. Christopher came in with ringworm and required regular medicated baths.

Despite the often grim injuries some hedgehogs arrive with, Jayne maintains her sense of humour—cheerfully admitting she has “spent many an evening looking at poo samples under a microscope.”

However, she believes education and awareness are just as vital as the rescue work itself. She recently hosted an information stand at an event in Queen’s Park to help spread the message. Despite growing interest, many people have never seen a hedgehog in the wild. According to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and its annual wildlife survey, only 29% of participants reported having seen a hedgehog, down from 32% the previous year.

This decline reflects a worrying trend: hedgehog populations have plummeted by 30% since 2003. Once estimated at around 36 million in the 1950s, their numbers have fallen drastically due to habitat loss, urban development, and reduced access to natural food sources.

Jayne explained that many people don’t contact her until it’s too late. She stresses the importance of recognising the warning signs early. For instance, if you see a hedgehog out during the day, it is not “sunbathing”—this is a clear sign that something is wrong, and the animal needs immediate help. Wobbly walking is another red flag, often indicating dehydration. In these cases, Jayne advises: “Always leave water, not milk.”

The decline in hedgehog populations is also linked to changes in their natural diet. Hedgehogs typically rely on caterpillars and beetles, which once made up around 5% of their diet. However, with the loss of hedgerows and natural habitats, these food sources are dwindling, leaving hedgehogs increasingly dependent on less nutritious options like slugs.

Among those supporting The Hoggery’s work is the newly elected Mayor of Westhoughton, Councillor Gillian Wroe, who has chosen the centre as one of her charities of the year.

The Mayor proudly points to her hedgehog badge and admits she’s always been a fan of the spiky creatures. “My love for hedgehogs started after one triggered our security light,” she recalls. That moment sparked something special—she and her husband quickly set up a feeding station and a wildlife camera. “Before we knew it, we were obsessed,” she laughs.

She also remembers how Maz from Hog Haven would reach out for help releasing healthy hedgehogs back into the wild. “To do this properly,” she explains, “a garden must be safe—with a feeding station, a hog house, and accessible entrances and exits.”

To this day, the hedgehogs she helped release have left a lasting impression. “I still remember Hamilton and Willow,” she says fondly, describing them as “two very different characters.” Hamilton was a chunky, confident hedgehog, while Willow was shy, with a more pointed face, often curled up tightly.

As The Hoggery continues its important work, supported by passionate volunteers and now the Mayor herself, Jayne remains focused on what matters most: giving hedgehogs a second chance. Whether it’s long nights nursing the injured, raising awareness in the community, or sharing stories of hedgehogs like Hamilton and Willow, every effort counts.