In Burntisland, Fife, a big-hearted couple has turned their family home into something truly special, a hospital for hedgehogs. It’s got everything from a maternity ward to an intensive care unit and even a fleet of volunteer “Hogbulances.”
What started with two sick hedgehogs rescued from the roadside nearly three years ago has grown into a full-blown mission for Sharon and Andy Longhurst. The pair founded Burntisland Hedgehog Haven, and since then, they’ve cared for 567 hedgehogs in need, from tiny orphans to the severely injured.
Their garage now doubles as an ICU with seven incubators and 40 cages, while their garden has been lovingly transformed into a hedgehog maternity ward. A team of 18 volunteers helps keep everything running, cleaning, feeding, and ferrying hedgehogs around in the rescue’s Hogbulances.
Sharon, a school crossing guard, and Andy, a bus driver, juggle their day jobs with their passion project, often fundraising through local events, raffles, and races to cover costs. Every month, they spend around £800 on food, bedding, and electricity, plus another £3,500 a year on vet bills.
The couple’s compassion hasn’t gone unnoticed. They were recently honored with a Highly Commended recognition at the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards in Scotland. On Facebook they wrote, “Thank you so much to all our volunteers, Hogbulance drivers and to everyone who supports the rescue with donations, food, newspapers or by sharing posts. We couldn’t do what we do without you all.”
So far, about 65% of the hedgehogs they’ve treated have survived and returned to the wild, a remarkable feat for a species now listed as “near threatened.”
Sharon admits, saying no just isn’t in her nature. “If there’s a hedgehog out there that needs help and it’s in pain, I can’t say no,” she told BBC News. “It’s a full-time job, we always say we have to draw a line, but then the phone rings and we say, ‘Bring it in.’”
Andy puts it simply: “We’ll do this until we’re unable to. They’re adorable, really lovely animals.”
- From Backyard to New Beginnings as Couple Gifts 46 Acres for Affordable Homes - January 9, 2026
- She Faced 100 Fears in 100 Days and Sparked a Global Movement - January 9, 2026
- A Tiny Home Gave a Veteran a Fresh Start and Brought His Little Girl Home - January 9, 2026
