Dedicated Carole is nominated for Best of Northumberland

Carole Catchpole, of the Northumbrian Hedgehog Rescue Trust, works tirelessly to relieve the suffering and distress of individual hedgehogs in need.

Throughout the year, people across the North East take injured, ill or dying hedgehogs to a converted part of Carole’s home in Longframlington that she has dedicated to the cause.

She cares for these adorable creatures until they are hopefully ready to be released. Around 300 hedgehogs are accepted annually, with 80 to 90 per cent released every year.

Costs include paying for veterinary bills, medication, food, dishes, heat pads heating, lighting and cleaning equipment, among other things. There is no funding other than occasional grants, personal donations and monies from self-fund-raising activities.

No animal is ever turned away and Carol, who never complains, willingly gives friendly advice and works endlessly to help the species, which has declined over the years. Carole is on call 24 hours a day and part of her garden is dedicated for patients too ill to ever be released.

The Northumbrian Hedgehog Rescue Trust is one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Northumberland Gazette Jam Jar Army campaign and Carole has been nominated in the Role Model category for the Best of Northumberland awards.

Her nomination is one of many which have poured in for this year’s awards, across the 13 different categories.

Organised by Northeast Press – publishers of the Northumberland Gazette, Morpeth Herald, News Post Leader – and Tweeddale Press’s Berwick Advertiser, the annual Best of Northumberland awards are a celebration of bravery, determination, commitment and achievement. We are looking for individuals and groups in the county who go above and beyond the call of duty and/or show incredible strength and courage in the face of adversity.

We want readers to make nominations and there is just over a week to go to nominate your heroes, before the Friday, August 19, deadline. The categories are Community Group; Community Champion; Student; Sporting Achievement; Fund-raiser; Child of Achievement; Child of Courage; Green Champion; Role Model; Volunteer; Sports Team; Good Neighbour; and Lifetime Contribution Award. The headline sponsor is Banks Group, which is also sponsoring the Green Champion award.

The awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, September 15, at Linden Hall, Longhorsley.

You can nominate your hero via email to [email protected] or by post using the form in this week’s Northumberland Gazette, Berwick Advertiser, Morpeth Herald or News Post Leader.