Suffolk Libraries supports appeal to create winter homes for hedgehogs and owls

Suffolk Libraries is supporting local wildlife by donating its old newspapers to help the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue.

Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue recently launched a public appeal for newspapers to help provide winter homes for hedgehogs that have been unable to hibernate.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, who also have hedgehogs in their care, also require newspapers for their Hedgehog Hotel and to support their day-to-day activities caring for birds of prey.

All Suffolk Libraries have a regular supply of newspapers so the organisation is doing its bit to help by donating old copies which aren’t needed. These papers will be sent to Stowmarket Library as donations for Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary to collect.

Maz Robinson, General Manager of Suffolk Owl Sanctuary said:

"Here at the Sanctuary, we go through quite a lot of newspapers in our Raptor Hospital. With the addition of the Hedgehog Hotel, we'll need even more to make sure that the wild animals we care for continue to have the highest level of treatment. Newspapers are used to line cages and boxes, making it easier to clean out quickly and minimise staining. As most newspapers go to recycling, we always give them another use before they are thrown away."

Paula Baker, Chair of Trustees for Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue, also stated the benefits that newspapers have for their hedgehogs:

“Nearly a hundred total hedgehogs in care at Suffolk Prickles have to be cleaned out daily. We line their beds with newspaper as it is an excellent insulator in these colder months. We also use the smaller papers to create bedding for them. A well-lined bed can be up to two or three whole newspapers depending on thickness, any less and the hedgehogs feel the cold and 'trash' their boxes. Despite the valiant attempts of our wonderful volunteers to bring in as many papers from the general public as possible we still sometimes struggle, so we are extremely grateful to people who are able to donate their used paper to us.”

Hannah Foulstone-Dalsgaard, Marketing Coordinator for Suffolk Libraries, said:

“We are thrilled to be able to do our part for local wildlife conservation and help give animals a warm home this winter. The very nature of our library service involves ‘recycling’ books and other items which are borrowed many times over so we’re very happy to do our bit by donating older copies of our newspapers."

Ursula Scott, Manager of Stowmarket Library, added:

“We’re really pleased to be able to recycle our old newspapers in order to help such a worthwhile cause.”

Suffolk Libraries and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary have been working in partnership since 2019 when Suffolk Libraries relaunched its early years activities as Wordplay sessions with a new mascot – Oona the Owl. Suffolk Libraries adopted ural owls at the sanctuary and issued a new owl-themed library card for children.

Anyone who lives locally is also encouraged to donate any spare newspapers to Stowmarket Library or the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary at Stonham Barnes.

You can find more information on these projects on the Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary websites.