Sharon and Andy Longhurst – family photo via SWNS

From Scotland comes the story of a couple who have dedicated their hearts and homes to an often helpless critter.

Andy and Sharon Longhurst have helped heal and rehabilitate over 500 European hedgehogs over nearly 3 years, and though they aren’t veterinarians, they can’t help but help when someone brings them a hedgehog.

Called the Burntisland Hedgehog Haven, the Longhursts began in 2023 in the upstairs room in their house, where they were allowed to care for up to 7 hedgehogs without a license in Scotland.

But they quickly realized the need to expand their capacity after word got out there was somewhere to bring an injured hedgehog. Not long after they started, they had to convert their garage.

Following two years of fundraising their own money, they’ve built a treatment ward in their garden, installed an ICU and over 40 rehab cages, as well as taken on 18 volunteers, established 3 rescue centers across Scotland, and even set up an ambulance service.

“Hedgehogs were listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List in 2024 as they have declined between 30-75% in rural areas since the year 2000,” Mrs. Longhurst said. The animals are slow, brown, and have poor eyesight, making them unfortunately vulnerable targets for vehicle strikes and other hazards.

“We were out in the car one day in 2022 and saw a hedgehog out in the day collapsed on a grass verge,” Mr. Longhurst said. “We contacted the SSPCA and they weren’t able to collect, so we drove the hedgehog all the way to the SSPCA Wildlife Center—which was a 50 mile round trip.”

“We leant that there was a guy up in Wormit near St. Andrews that had been doing hedgehog rescue for 25-plus years and was looking for someone to take it over due to ill health,” he said, explaining how they got started. “We went and had a chat with Sandy Boyd and he gave us valuable information and gave some equipment to get us started.”

Parents to three children, the Longhursts were shocked at how quickly the 7 animal-limit was breached.

“If there’s a hedgehog out there that needs help and it’s in pain, I can’t say no, we have to help it,” said Sharon. “We always say we have to draw a line, we cannot take any more but then you get that phone call and we’re like ‘come on, bring it in.”

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That saw them convert their garage, which had previously served as a playroom for the children, into the second of three eventual wards at the rescue center. The couple later fundraised to build a structure in their garden where the third ward is located.

Andy and Sharon can now care for up to 40 hedgehogs at any one time and have a team of volunteers to help cleaning, weighing, and checking the hedgehogs on a daily basis.

Sharon Longhurst helping a hedgehog – family photo via SWNS

Part of their mission is also to educate the public on how to create a safe space in their own garden. They’ve rescued hedgehogs from practically every malady imaginable, from vehicle strikes to fly larvae infestations, infections, wounds from dogs, wounds from gardening tools, and even one fellow whose spikes got tangled in a soccer net. If they need antibiotics or an x-ray, they’ll send them off to the vet, as they’re not certified for that level of care.

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For those who know Scottish geography, their hospital and care covers Edinburgh, The Lothian’s, and Fife, and as far out as Berwick, and Falkirk.

The pair were awarded the BBC Make A Difference Award Highly Commended in the Animal Category last week and recently featured on Channel 5 News as Heroes of The Week.

Last year they also won the ‘Animal All Star’ award out of the whole of the UK, and received a mention in Parliament.

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