Suffolk wildlife hospital 'unsustainable' without expansion

The Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital, located in Newmarket, is at risk of permanent closure unless its proposal for a new regional wildlife hospital is approved. Founded by Sue Stubley, 62, the center specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation of hedgehogs and other wildlife. Stubley has expressed urgent concerns, stating that the facility has had to temporarily close due to being over capacity, highlighting the pressing need for expansion. Stubley aims to establish a new hospital on a 27-acre plot in Kirtling, Cambridgeshire, which she has already purchased. The proposed facility would serve not only Suffolk but also the neighboring counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Essex. It is designed to be a purpose-built wildlife veterinary practice, featuring a rehabilitation area for various wildlife species, and will prioritize environmental sustainability by utilizing recycled materials, subject to regulatory approval. The founder emphasized the dire situation, noting that nine wildlife hospitals in the Cambridgeshire area have recently closed, and without the new facility, her center could become another statistic. Stubley also expressed concern for her staff's job security if the hospital were to shut down. To finance the new project, she plans to sell her home and is appealing to the public for support, inviting donations of pet food, blankets, and laundry supplies to help sustain the current operations.