A new Conservation Hub to support the work of the Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity (SWCC) Hedgehog Hospital is set to boost the wildlife charity’s impact, thanks to £45,000 in grant funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
The grant will support the charity’s mission to protect hedgehogs and inspire people to protect wildlife in their own communities.
The money will fund a Conservation Hub at Shepreth Wildlife Park, featuring permanent interactive and educational displays to engage visitors as well as local supporters and volunteers.
The Hub will coexist with the SWCC Hedgehog Hospital, at Shepreth Wildlife Park, as an extension of the charity’s offering as it expands it routes on raising awareness and educating on all manner of global conservation issues. The SWCC Hedgehog Hospital, which to date has cared for over 7,000 hedgehogs, plays a vital role in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured and orphaned hedgehogs back into the wild.
The £50,000 project is being funded thanks to a £45,000 grant from the Rural England Protection Fund (REPF) which supports rural communities and businesses to develop long-term resilience. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is the lead authority for the fund while South Cambridgeshire District Council is responsible for local grant delivery.
Peter McDonald, Lead Cabinet member for Economic Development for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Hedgehogs are one of our most loved species, yet they’re increasingly under threat from habitat loss, climate change and the way we use our landscapes. Projects like this are so important because they combine real, hands‑on wildlife protection with education that helps people of all ages understand how they can make a difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that safeguards hedgehogs and other wildlife, but also inspires learning, volunteering and community action, ensuring our natural environment is protected and valued for generations to come.”
A spokesperson for Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity said: “This is far more than a building - it’s a platform for change. The Conservation Hub will help us connect people to wildlife in new ways, inspire conservation action and strengthen support for species like the much-loved, yet vulnerable hedgehog.”
Local district councillors, Cllr Sally Ann Hart and Cllr Jose Hales, have given the plans their full support, saying it is commendable to see the popular Shepreth Wildlife Park expand its conservation work.
They commented: “Since 2000, the decline in the UK hedgehop population has been dramatic and this decline is even worse in rural areas. This significant grant, supporting the development of the Conservation Hub, will play a vital part in promoting and educating people to do all they can to help hedgehog numbers increase."
The SWCC already engages extensively within the local community to raise awareness of wildlife protection and ecological sustainability. Through education programmes, partnerships and research, the charity helps people understand the pressures facing hedgehogs and how everyday actions - from garden habits to citizen science - can make a real difference in ensuring hedgehogs and other vulnerable wildlife have a future in the British countryside.
The new Community Hub will be created by repurposing an existing building, avoiding the need for new construction. Rainwater will be harvested from roof guttering and reused to irrigate wildlife and wildflower gardens across the site.
View all news