Bill and Elizabeth opened Twiggy Winkies Farm in 1989, a small farm for children, In 1990 they opened a hospital for hedgehogs with early help from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
A change of name to Hedgehog Hospital at Prickly Ball Farm soon followed, and the farm became so popular it won Tourist Attraction of the Year in 1997 for the South West, and the following year visitor numbers reached over 100.000.
Working closely with our Veterinary Surgery there were many operations completed particularly those repairing fractures to limbs of hedgehogs which saved many prickly lives. Other treatments and care resulted in a large number of hedgehogs returning to the wild.
The hospital also took part in a research programme set by Dr Pat Morris, an expert in the knowledge of hedgehogs.
By the time the farm was sold in 2005 we were also caring for other wildlife, squirrels, birds, and badgers to name a few.
We still live in the same house next to Prickly Ball and we missed the care of wildlife. So after two years as volunteers at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Hospital in Somerset, we have built a small wildlife hospital for Devon, and to finance the hospital we have built a 22 place cattery called Cool for Cats.
We are passionate about wildlife, and really enjoy the daily care.
Once animals are well enough, they are transferred next door to Devon Wildlife Centre, where the animals are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild.
A change of name to Hedgehog Hospital at Prickly Ball Farm soon followed, and the farm became so popular it won Tourist Attraction of the Year in 1997 for the South West, and the following year visitor numbers reached over 100.000.
Working closely with our Veterinary Surgery there were many operations completed particularly those repairing fractures to limbs of hedgehogs which saved many prickly lives. Other treatments and care resulted in a large number of hedgehogs returning to the wild.
The hospital also took part in a research programme set by Dr Pat Morris, an expert in the knowledge of hedgehogs.
By the time the farm was sold in 2005 we were also caring for other wildlife, squirrels, birds, and badgers to name a few.
We still live in the same house next to Prickly Ball and we missed the care of wildlife. So after two years as volunteers at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Hospital in Somerset, we have built a small wildlife hospital for Devon, and to finance the hospital we have built a 22 place cattery called Cool for Cats.
We are passionate about wildlife, and really enjoy the daily care.
Once animals are well enough, they are transferred next door to Devon Wildlife Centre, where the animals are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild.
About us
Cattery and hospital buildings
