A LOCAL hedgehog rescue is appealing to Forest of Dean residents to help give a rehabilitated animal the best possible chance of returning safely to the wild.

Tiny Spikes Hedgehog Rescue is currently seeking a suitable release garden in Parragate, Cinderford, or very nearby, as preparations continue to return hedgehogs to their natural environment following treatment and care.

The rescue says any potential release site must already have wild hedgehogs visiting, be free from dogs, and allow hedgehogs to move in and out of the garden freely. A suitable hedgehog house must be in place, and residents must be willing to provide supportive feeding for at least two weeks after release.

The appeal comes as the rescue reminds the public of the strict welfare standards that all UK hedgehog rescues must follow. These are known as the Five Freedoms, a framework underpinning the Animal Welfare Act and widely recognised across the UK and parts of Europe.

The Five Freedoms include the need for a suitable environment and diet, the ability for animals to exhibit natural behaviours, appropriate housing in relation to other animals, and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

The rescue has stressed the importance of diet in particular, warning that inappropriate feeding can undo months of careful rehabilitation. Guidance on suitable hedgehog care and feeding is provided by organisations such as the RSPCA, and residents are urged to follow official advice rather than relying on myths or outdated practices.

Anyone in the Parragate or Cinderford area who believes they can meet all the requirements is asked to contact the rescue directly via WhatsApp.

Tiny Spikes Hedgehog Rescue says community support plays a vital role in giving rehabilitated hedgehogs a safe return to the Forest’s gardens and green spaces, where the species continues to face growing pressures from habitat loss and urban development.