A DALTON woman who has dedicated her life to protecting hedgehogs has two big wishes – protect the dwindling hedgehog population and rid the world of strimmers.  

As founder of the Dalton-based Furness Hedgehog Society every year Irene Cannon has hedgehogs brought to her with horrendous injuries, many of which are the result of people using garden strimmers. 

Despite the odds, with the help of experienced vets Mr Cannon nurses them back to health, but too often it proves impossible. 

Now in the middle of British Hedgehog Awareness Week “Irene the hedgehog lady”, as she is known, is working to raise awareness of the struggles these prickly creatures have to survive. 

Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society annually. This year efforts are focused on strimmers and garden cutting machines. 

The BHPS is asking people to check gardens, lawns and park areas carefully before using any machinery. 

Mrs Cannon is going to approach local councils and equipment hire firms to put stickers produced by the BHPS on all their equipment to remind staff and customers of the risk to hedgehogs. 

She said: “The stickers are free and I am going to ask councils and hire firms to please put them on all their equipment.

 “They remind people to check gardens, lawns and gardens for hedgehogs before they start work. 

“Often mother hedgehogs will be asleep in long grass or piles of leaves near their nest of hoglets. 

“If she gets badly injured or killed it can leave four to six babies behind and without mum they will die.

 “I hate strimmers because of the state that people bring hedgehogs into me after being injured by them. 

“If I could I would get rid of all the strimmers in the world.” 

Hedgehogs are coming out of hibernation now and if people see them in their gardens in the evening Mrs Cannon is asking them to leave them food such as chicken-flavoured cat food and bowls of water. 

Mrs Cannon added: “Also, would people slow down on country lanes and roads because if a hedgehog is crossing and is frightened by lights it will not run away but curl up in a ball and then get run over.” 

It is not uncommon for Mrs Cannon to have between 25 to 30 hedgehogs in her care but this winter the number has actually gone up to 60. 

She said: “I think the very wet weather has had something to do with it because their nests have been washed away and everyone’s gardens have been so wet.

 “We have saved more hedgehogs than ever, but it is not a good sign to have so many in my care.”

 If anyone is worried about the health of a hedgehog or would like to know more about what to do to help them please call Mrs Cannon on 01229 464829. 

Tips to help the hogs from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society:  Ensure there is hedgehog access in your garden – a 13cm x 13cm gap in boundary fences and walls. 

Move piles of rubbish to a new site before burning them.

Ensure netting is kept at a safe height. 

Check compost heaps before digging the fork in. 

Stop or reduce the amount of pesticides and poisons used. 

Cover drains or deep holes and ensure there is an easy route out of ponds and pools.