Speaker Meeting - Angela Hall - Hedgehog Rehabilitation

30 May 2019 Hedgehog Rehabilitation – Angela Hall

Before the meal started President Elect Jane made a cheque presentation to 15 year old Marth Harris, who despite her disabilities has been competing in wheelchair tennis and has the ambition to reach the next Paralympics.

Next Past President Adrian explained that his daughter Jennifer had started running, losing over 4 stone in weight and completed the Edinburgh Half Marathon last week end.  Naturally Dad Ade and brother Peter joined her to give her support and a Sponsor sheet was circulated to be donated to The Notts/Lincs Air ambulance, which was well supported by members present.

Rob reported on his visit to Mapperley RC Charter and also mentioned that he and Chris had helped the Robert Miles Rota Kids with their Litter picking on the Bingham Linear walk last Thursday.

Angela Hall, a Bingham Chiropodist, has been helping orphaned and injured hedgehogs for 14 years after her husband found an injured hedgehog on their front lawn. Angela qualified as a registered Hedgehog Rehabilitator at the Vale Wildlife Hospital in Gloucestershire. She is one of around 700 such people in the UK. The animals are closely related to the vole/shrew, have poor eyesight but have good hearing and sense of smell. She explained that these animals are becoming endangered due mainly to the reduction in the number of hedgerows/use of pesticides. In 1950 there were estimated to be 30 million and the figure is now nearer 1 million. With great enthusiasm and humour she talked about some of the issues faced in trying to rescue and release back into the wild rescued hedgehogs. In particular she recounted the magical experience of feeding young at 3.00 in the morning and the dangers of flying poo! Often it is dehydration that is the issue with ‘poorly’ hedgehogs and the remedy is 2 or 3 injections of saline solutions, which is not an easy process alone as you have to pinch the skin in which to insert the needle. If we encounter a hedgehog in our gardens she told us not to feed it with bread or milk and definitely not fish but instead put down cat or dog food. This was a very entertaining and informative talk appreciated by all at club.                                                                              CN