Jewson has helped the creation of a new hedgehog hospital with the donation of building materials for its construction.
The Prickly Patch is a volunteer-run centre in Monmouth, South Wales, providing a dedicated base for care, recovery and release for wild hedgehogs, which are on the red list as a species at risk of extinction.
Jewson has donated more than £10,000 worth of building materials towards the construction of The Prickly Patch, including supplying the main cabin where the hospital is based. This follows a long-running partnership between the builders' merchant and young campaigner Dylan Allman, who has spearheaded the project.
One of the most recognised hedgehog champions in the UK, Allman is known for his ‘Be Hedgehog Aware' campaign, which he started aged 13, and for setting up the Hedgehog First Response Unit (FRU) in 2024.
Last year, Jewson launched its Homes for Nature campaign in collaboration with Allman, encouraging customers and local communities to build shelters for hedgehogs approaching the winter hibernation using recycled pallets and other materials donated by their local Jewson branch.
Sabrina Passley, Head of Sustainability at STARK Building Materials UK Ltd (STARK UK), said: "The moment we were introduced to Dylan we recognised just how important his vital campaigning is. The Prickly Patch is yet another fantastic milestone on his journey to helping as many hedgehogs as possible, and is a great example of people coming together to create something meaningful.
"We'll always be fans of hedgehogs and wildlife here at Jewson, which is why we were so keen to donate our products to this cause, and why we will continue to stock wildlife friendly materials to help protect our prickly patch friends, bats and birds."
Dylan Allman, Founder of the First Response Unit and Lead Trustee for The Prickly Patch, added: "After discovering hedgehogs in my garden and learning about their decline, I was determined to help make a difference. Setting up the Monmouth First Response Unit showed me how many hedgehogs there were in the area, and how important it was to act quickly when they needed help. But I was travelling a long way to other centres and realised there was a huge gap here for a specialist hedgehog hospital close by.
"The Prickly Patch now gives local hedgehogs the best possible chance to recover and be released safely back into the wild after injury. I am so grateful to our funders and volunteers for making this project a reality, and know that together we will make a huge impact on improving the outcomes and awareness of hedgehogs and wider biodiversity."
In the photo: Hefin Owen (Jewson), Dylan Allman, Catherine Fookes MP (MP for Monmouthshire), Emily Ryder (Trustee of The Prickly Patch, on whose land the centre is based), and Andrew Blake (Manager of Wye Valley National Landscape).
