A Valley woman who helps rescue hedgehogs across the island and nurses them back to health is Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie’s May Hidden Hero.
Sue Timperley started volunteering with North Wales Wildlife Trust Living Seas after her retirement from medical sales.
However, it was 2015 when she saw a hedgehog on the lawn in the middle of the day looking unwell and she got in touch with a mainland rescue.
She was then gradually lured into rescuing her own hedgehogs first by being asked to foster a couple of hoglets and then attending the Vale Wildlife hospital hedgehog course in Gloucestershire in 2017.
“From then on it was a steep learning curve and once word was out that a hedgehog rescue was on Anglesey the hedgehogs never stopped coming,” she said.
In 2019 Sue set up a bespoke ‘hogspital’ in her garden because she had run out of space. At its fullest it has housed 32 poorly hedgehogs and it is now called Anglesey Hedgehog Rescue.
It is supported by a small team of dedicated volunteers and is open 365 days of the year. It never says no but is always in need of donations.
“We need around £50 to treat each individual hedgehog,” Sue said. “I love what we do and with hedgehogs on the red list, every one that gets back to the wild is worth its weight in gold.”
She added: “I am grateful for this award from Virginia, but I don’t run the rescue for recognition or awards.
“It is a privilege to help these iconic prickly mammals from being sick or injured back to healed and healthy. We can’t save every one, but all the successes help us through the losses. When asked why I do it I often say – if not me then who?”
Virginia added: “Sue is Mrs Hedgehog on this island making sure we have as big a population of these much-loved mammals as possible.
“She is a determined woman who started Anglesey Hedgehog Rescue from scratch and with her brilliant team of volunteers she has saved hundreds. I have even mentioned her work in parliament so I have no hesitation in saying she is a worthy Hidden Hero.”
