Hedgehogs, death and depression

[MissPrickly]

My dream is to buy a tiny cottage and run a hedgehog rescue from it. I love hedgehogs and so did my Mum. We used to see them all the time when I was a kid scuttling around the garden. But no more. It's rare to see one unless it's squashed on the road.

I'm engulfed with depression and anxiety at the moment. It's very bad. Grief at the loss of my Mum is all consuming. I can't be bothered to eat, I don't sleep. I'm lost. I've lost the only person who loved me unconditionally. I spoke to Health in Mind.....I'm on a waiting list.....5 months !

Anyway, I'm hanging on to my dream by the tips of my fingers. I've bought a few things at a jumble sale and am hoping to get a few pounds for them on eBay.

Good luck.
We saw 2 little hedgies when we were at Alton towers!
Hope you feel better soon x

Good luck op...you can do it!

Gorgeous 🥰

Thank you. 🥹

Could you volunteer at a local hedgehog rescue ?

I saw a hedgehog at Alton Towers too! They are so cute and shy.

What a lovely dream you have. Fingers crossed for you.

Yes the area around Alton Towers is a bit of a haven for hedgies - there are lots of parts of the country that dont have any left, but they seem to be thriving around there. Good luck OP - have you tried CRUSE for help with bereavement? Some areas have support groups for bereaved people which may be helpful? And there are some great self help resources for depression and anxiety on Get Self Help and Psychology Tools while you are waiting. Hope you feel better soon, and sorry for your loss.

That’s awesome. What a great plan. I wanted a small holding but my health/fitness won’t support it. I too could set up a hedgehog rescue! You’ve inspired me- so that’s two future hedgehog charities underway. Well done!

That’s a wonderful plan. I take care of two hedgehogs in my small garden. They have a house padded with hay, and they come out for dinner around 9 PM.

May your dream come true 🙏 It's so beautiful the way you're creating beauty from grief...
Two years ago, I found a hedgehog in my garden: I felt such pure joy that it felt like I was a child again...
Good luck🍀

🥲🙏

It won't let me upload a photo directly in here but I saw this a few days ago and posted it on my Facebook as it's such a lovely photo of a hedgehog!

ibb.co/r08JW8q

Op, I'm sorry for your loss.

Have you considered art as a therapy?

No matter what skill level you are at there are lots of tutorials online if you search and even videos on YouTube yo help you.

Or even cross stitch, crochet or knitting!

Crafting can help help calm your mind and give you a focus away from respective thoughts and stop your mind from whirling.

When you make/create something you get a feeling of achievement which also helps boost your mind.

You can even get some pva glue and go out and collect fallen leaves to make a picture, there's tutorials for that too!

I met someone who does this, she gives her contact details to the local vet and has quite a lot of hedgehogs. Maybe do the same and just rescue one to start with?

We have a hedgehog who helps eat our cat food. They're noisy little chaps!

Why didn't my photo load?

I had two in my garden a little while ago 😍 I’ve never seen any in my garden before

We feed a little family of 3 each evening - here's a photo of the baby being created!

Oh OP - you have a beautiful dream and I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum.

Have you joined Hedgehog Street? They need wonderful people like you. https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/

Awwwh we have so many in our garden and fields, we see them most nights. We are in Hampshire and I think they are on the risk around here. Take care op x

Sorry to hear. We are actually looking for a new home for our hedgehog (london) if that would be of any interest, whilst you wait to start your big venture

I'm so envious of you all having spotted a hedgie!

I was going to suggest Hedgehog Street too. You might enjoy losing yourself in this lovely book about hedgehogs:

www.amazon.co.uk/Prickly-Affair-Charm-Hedgehog/dp/0141034297?dplnkId=93cf8230-6413-4ed7-a82c-3b7c21455f54&nodl=1

We live very rurally and don't have hedgehogs as we have badgers🦡. But my friend who lives in the nearest village gets them regularly in her garden. I get hedgehog envy!
Sorry about your mum op, it's so hard losing someone you love

I have a hedgie in my garden! We give him water when it's hot and take care that he has a nice place to hibernate in the winter