Mansfield Woodhouse mum helps raise money to save hedgehogs
A Mansfield Woodhouse mum is helping a wildlife charity raise money to save hedgehogs.
Katy Whitby, who is a youth work manager, has been crocheting cuddly hedgehogs to raise money for the Mansfield Woodhouse Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Katy created a family of hedgehogs which were auctioned on Facebook by Mansfield Woodhouse Councillor John Coxhead and well known former Mansfield ‘Super-Nanny’ Anne Callaghan who regularly organise community support initiatives.
Katy, a 43-year-old mum of four, who works for Nottinghamshire County Council has been crocheting the cute creatures after work to pass the time during lockdown.
Her first family of hedgehogs raised £100. John and Anne’s ‘find the hedgehogs a forever home' appeal resulted in £100 being raised through auction money and donations. The auction was won by Peter Shead.
Katy said: “It’s nice to help, and lovely to be able to support John and Anne who do so much for Mansfield Woodhouse. It is a wonderful community.
“I enjoy crocheting, the hedgehogs only take about an hour each to make if I crack on after working from home. It was something to do during the lockdown evenings – I wasn’t going anywhere!”
John, who is councillor for the Yeoman Hill ward, and Anne have also led a campaign to collect cat food for rescued hedgehogs.
John said: “We collected cat food for the injured or orphaned hedgehogs at the centre run by Cheryl Martins. We had a massive response, nearly 2,000 donations of sachets and boxes.
"Hedgehogs are such special animals, their habitats are gradually being eroded and they are vulnerable. I made up a story about poor homeless Harry the hedgehog and his wife Mable and three children, now they have found their forever home!”
Katy is now busy crocheting another family of the hedgerow critters.
Anyone interested in acquiring them, should keep an eye on the Anne Callaghan & John Coxhead- Fighting for North Mansfield & Woodhouse Facebook page.
Anne, who runs her own business supporting parents and works with schools, said: “We just want to say well done everyone and a massive thanks and appreciation for all the donations.”