Lady living with 500 hedgehogs battles council for sign to direct people to her animal 'hospital'

A woman who lives with 500 hedgehogs is fighting for a road sign to direct people with sick animals to her home. Barbara Roberts, 63, set up a sanctuary of hedgehogs in her semi-detached suburban home in Withington, south Manchester, more than 30 years ago. The pensioner now has 200 hedgehogs in one room alone, with a specially-built ‘hospital’ in the back garden of her semi with room for up to 400 more.



The wildlife lover says she hasn’t had a holiday in 30 years and people come from across the north west to hand in sick, injured or orphaned baby hedgehogs. Such is the demand for her services, Barbara has now lodged an application with Manchester council to get an official road sign put up directing people bringing injured hedgehogs to her. But the council says it would cost more than £1,000 which cannot be paid from the public purse. Barbara, who was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for he wildlife work, says she cannot afford to pay the fee and is calling for council bosses to make an exemption.

She said: “People come from Cumbria, Liverpool and Tameside bringing their wildlife here. I think I’m the only registered charity that doesn’t have a sign. Even the British Conservation Society people couldn’t find my house when they came from London. I think a sign would put the hedgehog hospital on the map.” Describing her routine, Barbara feeds and cares for the stricken creatures until they are well enough to be released back into the wild.



Barbara, who founded the Withington Hedgehog Care Trust in 2002, and says she plans to leave her home to the hedgehogs in her will when she dies, said: “It is a 24-hour job, people are always bringing me animals.” She added: “Some are orphaned or abandoned babies, others are cruelty cases or ones who have had their legs chopped off by lawn mowers. They are fed and looked after and released back into the wild so they are always coming and going.” A spokesman for Manchester council said: “While we recognise the importance of the work that Barbara Roberts does to help Manchester’s wildlife, sadly we are not able to provide her with a road sign free of charge as this is not a service we offer.”

There's a short documentary film about Barbara and her outstanding work here.