Meet some of the cute creatures currently being cared for by Mansfield wildlife centre

Cheryl Martins has been caring for injured or homeless animals for most of her life.

For at least 30 years she has cared for everything from hedgehogs, to tawny owls, pigeons, badgers to fox cubs and more.

Cheryl, who is also a busy mum, runs the Mansfield Wildlife Centre from her Brown Avenue home in Mansfield Woodhouse with husband Steve.

She is planning to move the centre to larger premises at Pleasely Vale Nature Reserve soon. There she hopes to be able to help more animals on a five-acre site.

Recently she has been caring for a family of hedgehogs which tied in nicely with a second community fundraising event in Mansfield Woodhouse, where handmade woolly hedgehogs were being auctioned.

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The cuddly creations were crocheted by youth worker and Mansfield Woodhouse community volunteer Kate Whitby.

It was the second batch of hedgehogs that Katy, a 43-year-old mum of four from Mansfield Woodhouse, had made to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Mansfield Wildlife Centre, and raising £500.

Cheryl Martins said: “Thanks to everyone for their donations and money raised by the auction. The lovely hedgehogs made by Katy raised money to go towards food for a real family of hedgehogs and the other animals that need help.”

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Anne Callaghan, Mansfield Woodhouse community champion said: “It was our second family of hedgehogs to be auctioned, kindly made and donated by one of our volunteers Kate.

"They have now gone to their forever home. We’ll continue to raise funds for the Mansfield Wildlife Rescue. Thanks to everyone.”