Julie and Bill Glanville, Maurice Thorpe, Alan Allinson, Carolyn Harman -  holding Donny the hedgehog (one of her recovering patients )

Did you know that our hedgehogs are on the critically endangered animal list ? They do not cope well with our modern world and our changing weather patterns. Habitat loss, intensive agriculture, pesticides, traffic and predators are just some of the issues that have affected the recent dramatic reduction in numbers.

One afternoon, late last year, as we drove into our driveway at home, we saw a baby hedgehog that had made its way into our garden. The hoglet, as we have now discovered is the term for a baby hedgehog, was still and not alarmed by the vehicle but unusually made no attempt to run away for cover. We got out of our car to make a closer inspection, which revealed the small creature was surrounded by flies and not appearing to be very well at all. We called our friend, a veterinary nurse, who lived nearby, for advice. She gave us the contact number of the Hedgehog Hospital in Hessle (just a few miles away), which we didn’t even know existed. We called and within minutes found ourselves en route to the hospital, with the hoglet in a box, with no flies. On arrival we were met by an amazing lady called Carolyn Harman, who I immediately recognised as the past financial advisor for the Humberside Police and who I had met a few times during my service period. She led us through her garden to a large outbuilding at the back which she had converted into a hospital for ill / injured hedgehogs. We were amazed as she took the hoglet, examined it, weighed it, identified it as a male and within minutes advised that it was indeed very poorly and in need of urgent medical attention. She administered some spray, sorted out some antibiotics and then placed it in a hutch like box for monitoring. Carolyn then went on to explain that the hospital had been started and funded by herself, had grown over the years to house up to 25 hedgehogs and was now partly funded by donations but was still mainly funded by herself. We left the hoglet which she had named James in her care and promised to keep in touch.

The very next day, whilst in the garden, we heard a rustling in a pile of leaves. On closer examination we found another baby hoglet in much the same condition as the one we had found the day before. Knowing what to do, we immediately called Carolyn and then drove the second baby hoglet to the hospital in Hessle. Carolyn, after an initial examination, believed the new baby hoglet was a sibling of James, was a female and was suffering from the same issues. She called the hoglet Josie and after some initial treatment placed her in the same hutch as James. She advised that both would hopefully recover and when they reached a particular weight, and would be released into one of a number of volunteer gardens in the area, where residents had promised to put food and water out each night.

It’s an expensive task to take care of hedgehogs. Most of Carolyn’s “patients” require round the clock care, multiple medicines and specialised and easily sanitised housing. The hog houses at the hospital cost £250 each and the drugs have to be ordered from abroad. A single incubator to treat hypothermic hogs is around £2800!

Carolyn’s hospital has accommodation for up to 25 hogs, including babies and pregnant females.

Being totally impressed by Carolyn’s commitment, sensitivity, caring attitude and dedication and of course the plight of one of our most favourite animals, I decided that something had to be done and as freemasons, maybe some assistance to Carolyn would go a long way.

Representations were made to Wilberforce Lodge and Chapter and the Humber Installed Masters Lodge and a total of £500 was pledged as a collective donation from these units.

On the 9th of September 2026, I attended at the Hedgehog Hospital, together with my wife Julie and W Bro’s Maurice Thorpe and Alan Allinson of the Wilberforce Lodge and Chapter. A cheque for £500 was presented to Carolyn, which she was so pleased to receive as her future plans included adding an extension to her hospital to house up to another 15 hedgehogs. Unfortunately the past WM of Humber Installed Masters Lodge, W Bro Ian Syddall got detained at work so couldn’t make the presentation.

Hedgehogs are wonderful little creatures and deserve our help. People like Carolyn and her volunteers deserve our support. Wilberforce Lodge and Chapter and Humber Installed Masters Lodge are happy and proud to have given some help to this worthy cause. Perhaps other units in the South of the Province may consider donating as well. A bottle of antiseptic costs around £50 so any amount would be gratefully received. Carolyn can be emailed on carolynyharman@gmail.com- if any unit would like to make contact with her. Please consider it.