Hedgehog rescue

What Hedgehog rescue does

Hedgehog Bottom (also styled as Hedgehog Bottom Rescue, with social handles including Hog's Bum / HogsBum) is a volunteer-run hedgehog hospital and rescue based in Thatcham, West Berkshire, United Kingdom. Founded in 2007 and HMRC-registered as charity XT27268, the organization provides rescue, rehabilitation, and release services for injured, sick, and underwintering wild hedgehogs, with consultant veterinary support from Falkland Veterinary. Core products and services include a hedgehog hospital at 72 Chapel Street, a foster care program for juveniles under 600g, exotic/pet hedgehog boarding, an online educational resource library covering feeding, hibernation, diagnosis, medication dosing and species ID, plus a Spreadshirt merchandise storefront. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying "stack" is a content-managed website, social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Pinterest), and volunteer coordination.

The business model is charitable rather than commercial. Services are provided free to the public; the organization states that 100% of donations go directly to the animals and that it does not receive government funding. Income is generated from individual donations (PayPal, Golden Giving, CAF Donate, bank transfer, wills and legacies), West Berkshire Lottery ticket sales (50p per £1 ticket), EasyFundraising and EasySearch affiliate income, merchandise royalties via Spreadshirt, and corporate sponsorships and in-kind support from partners including Lush, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Greenham Common Trust, Ark Wildlife, Animal Friends Insurance, Royal Canin, Zooplus, Brinsea, Vetericyn, and Sheepdrove Trust. Headcount is 6 (described as volunteer-run). Reach is regional across Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire, via direct service from the hospital and a network of referral partner rescues. The organization does not collect animals itself due to lacking vehicles, limiting direct catchment to bring-in cases and the 25-mile foster radius around Thatcham.

Name

Hedgehog rescue

Legal name

Hedgehog Bottom

Website

https://hedgehog-rescue.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hedgehog Bottom is a volunteer-run, HMRC-registered hedgehog rescue and hospital in Thatcham, West Berkshire, UK. Founded in 2007, it provides free rehabilitation and release services for wild hedgehogs, foster care, exotic boarding, and educational resources, funded by donations, a lottery, merchandise, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Wildlife rescue services
• Animal rehabilitation
• Hedgehog hospital
• Wildlife conservation
• Charitable animal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Thatcham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Direct donations from public, lottery, wills and legacies, EasyFundraising, EasySearch, and general fundraising activities. 100% of donations go direct to the animals.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling hedgehog-themed merchandise via Spreadshirt platform.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsors provide funds, supplies, or services including food donations, equipment, and venue support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hedgehog Bottom operates a volunteer-run hedgehog hospital and rescue in West Berkshire that delivers rescue, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and release services for injured, sick, and underweight wild hedgehogs. The organization also runs an overwintering foster care program for juveniles under 600g, boarding for exotic pet hedgehogs that cannot survive in the wild, and a public education program through an extensive online care guide library. Revenue is generated through donations, merchandise sales, lottery, and corporate sponsorships, with services provided free to the public.

Product overview

Hedgehog Bottom is a volunteer-run hedgehog rescue and hospital in West Berkshire offering a portfolio of services centered on hedgehog rehabilitation and conservation. Core offerings include medical treatment and release of wild hedgehogs, exotic hedgehog boarding for pet species that cannot survive in the wild, an online merchandise shop powered by Spreadshirt, a lottery program via West Berkshire Lottery, educational care guides, and a foster care program for overwintering juveniles. The organization relies entirely on donations and fundraising to fund operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hedgehog Hospital & Rescue Services Volunteer-run wildlife hospital providing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and release services for injured and sick wild hedgehogs in West Berkshire, delivered free to the public.
• Exotic Hedgehog Boarding Boarding facilities for African Pygmy pet hedgehogs that cannot survive in the wild, providing specialized care for non-native species.
• Foster Care Program Overwintering program where trained volunteers care for juvenile hedgehogs under 600g indoors within 25 miles of Thatcham until spring release.
• Online Shop (Spreadshirt) Merchandise store powered by Spreadshirt, selling hedgehog-themed products including t-shirts and personalized gifts to raise funds for the rescue.
• West Berkshire Lottery Weekly lottery partnership allowing supporters to play for prizes up to £25,000 while contributing to hedgehog rescue funding, with 50p per £1 ticket donated to the rescue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of donations go direct to the animals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ark WildlifecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArk Wildlife Charity Partner Scheme. Hedgehog Bottom receives donations when supporters purchase from Ark Wildlife through referral links. Ark provides wildlife food and supplies.
• Sainsbury'smajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal store partnership providing 12 months of store support including awareness-raising, fundraising in-store, volunteering and donations.
• Lush CosmeticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored new hospital building construction. Lush focuses on environmental issues and supports groups taking direct action to help the environment.
• WaitrosemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWaitrose Community Matters initiative. Local branches donate funds monthly to support hedgehog care. Has donated over £3 million to various charities since 2008.
• Greenham Common TrustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFunded incubator, ICU, storage, and event tent for Hedgehog Bottom. Works in partnership with local community in West Berkshire and northern North Hampshire.
• Animal Friends InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet insurance company that donates a share of monthly charity fund to Hedgehog Bottom.
• Sheepdrove TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrust supporting sustainability, biodiversity and organic farming initiatives. Donated funds for new cages.
• Royal CaninminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated specialist feeds (Recovery formula) for hedgehog rehabilitation.
• ZooplusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet supplies retailer, sponsor providing food donations for hedgehogs.
• West Berkshire LotterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly lottery raising funds for good causes in West Berkshire. Hedgehog Bottom receives 50p per £1 ticket sold. Top prize of £25,000 with 1-in-50 chance of winning.
• Falkland VeterinarycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultant veterinary practice providing professional veterinary care and guidance for hedgehog patients.
• BrinseaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIncubation specialists who donated incubator parts and accessories for hedgehog care.
• VetericynminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinner of Charity Giveaway 2012, donated 1 year supply of wound spray for hedgehog care.
• GiveacarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCar donation service that picks up vehicles from anywhere in UK and donates proceeds to Hedgehog Bottom.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• The Wildlife Trusts: Federation of 46 local wildlife trusts across the UK. Broader biodiversity mission but runs wildlife rescue, education, and conservation programmes overlapping with Hedgehog Bottom's remit.
• RSPCA: UK's largest animal welfare charity, operating wildlife rescue and rehabilitation through regional centres. Overlaps with Hedgehog Bottom's mission but operates at national scale with paid staff and government funding.
• Born Free Foundation: Animal welfare and conservation charity with UK wildlife rescue partnerships. While broader in scope (including exotic species), it shares the wildlife rehabilitation and public education mission of Hedgehog Bottom.

Direct peers

• Secret World Wildlife Rescue: Somerset-based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity treating hedgehogs and other British wildlife. Comparable volunteer-supported hospital model with 24/7 intake and rehabilitation focus.
• People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES): UK conservation charity focused on British species including hedgehogs. Co-runs Hedgehog Street and supports hedgehog rescue and monitoring — directly comparable conservation and intervention remit.
• Vale Wildlife Hospital: Specialist wildlife hospital and rehabilitation centre in Gloucestershire. Listed by Hedgehog Bottom as a core referral and training partner; offers directly comparable hedgehog triage, treatment, and release services.
• British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS): National charity dedicated to hedgehog conservation. Listed as a referral and information partner of Hedgehog Bottom; comparable mission around hedgehog welfare, public education, and rescue coordination across the UK.
• Hedgehog Street: Joint campaign by BHPS and PTES promoting hedgehog-friendly gardening and population monitoring. Operates in the same hedgehog conservation niche and shares the educational/public-engagement remit of Hedgehog Bottom.
• St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital: Largest UK wildlife hospital in Buckinghamshire, treating hedgehogs among many species. A direct referral partner of Hedgehog Bottom and operates on the same volunteer-supported hospital model with similar rehabilitation and release mission.

Regional players

• Scottish SPCA: Scotland's animal welfare charity operating wildlife rescue services. Directly comparable service mix (wildlife hospital, rehabilitation, education) but operating in a different UK region from Hedgehog Bottom.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Hedgehog_Bottom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/HogsBum
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hedgehog.Bottom
• Pinterestpinterest.com/hogsbum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hedgehog-rescue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hedgehog rescue