logo
Tributes pour in for Chatteris hedgehog charity founder

Tributes pour in for Chatteris hedgehog charity founder

BBC News5 hours ago

Tributes have been paid to a much-loved Cambridgeshire hedgehog rescue charity founder, who has died aged 49.Heather Johnson opened Heather's Hedgehog Hostel at her home in Chatteris in 2014 and was recognised in her community for her tireless work caring for the animals.Ms Johnson, who had also worked as a teacher, died on 17 June in hospital. Her website posted: "Heather was, and will continue to be, a huge inspiration to us all."
Hundreds of tributes were posted on social media.Cathy Gibb de Swarte, from Littleport, said: "Heather's Hedgehog Hostel legacy will live on forever. I for one will dearly miss Heather who truly was and will always be an inspiration to us all."Another user posted: "Such sad news. I only met Heather once last year when I took a poorly hedgehog to her but I was so inspired by her and immediately took to her. She was so lovely and totally dedicated to helping the hedgehogs."A third tribute read: "I was lucky enough to meet Heather last year when she collected a hedgehog I had found. She was a remarkable human being and the world is a sadder place without her."Heathers Hedgehog Hostel said in a statement: "Heather's life was dedicated to her two passions - supporting children and rescuing animals, describing this herself as 'nothing else I'd rather do, and nowhere else I'd rather be'."
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Giraffe body part ‘trophies' imported by hunters into UK
Giraffe body part ‘trophies' imported by hunters into UK

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Giraffe body part ‘trophies' imported by hunters into UK

Global exports of giraffe body part trophies reached 1,791 in 2023, with 120 from captive-bred animals, and 21 imported into the UK by British Hunters. Hunters imported various giraffe parts, including skins, bones, skulls, feet, tails, and even genitalia, with US Hunters accounting for 60% of global imports. Giraffes are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, with their population declining by 40% in three generations, leaving approximately 68,000 worldwide. Plans for a UK ban on trophy imports remain stalled, despite a government mandate and calls from campaigners and conservationists. Experts refute claims that trophy hunting benefits local economies, arguing it further endangers giraffe populations and urging the UK to ban imports.

New home built in garden in Hove as part of council project
New home built in garden in Hove as part of council project

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

New home built in garden in Hove as part of council project

A new family home has been built on a garden in Hove as part of a project that looks to transform unused sites into good quality through the Hidden Home project, the two-bedroom house on Martin Road is the latest addition to Brighton & Hove City Council's housing house, which is the 30th delivered since this project began in 2019, is to be let at social rent to ensure it is Gill Williams, chair of the housing and new homes committee, says the demand for housing in Brighton and Hove requires "truly innovative solutions". She said: "The Hidden Homes project ensures that we make the best use of pockets of land and redundant spaces on our estates, which would otherwise serve no purpose and remain 'hidden', by transforming them into good quality, comfortable and sustainable new homes."The new home on Martin Road has been built on land which was previously part of the garden of a neighbouring council house. Biodiversity When the vacant home was due to be refurbished, the opportunity was taken to divide the original large garden to provide an additional house is designed to be energy efficient, with an air source heat pump heating system and solar panels to help reduce energy bills.A bee brick and three swift bricks have also been installed to help enhance the local homes built through the Hidden Homes project include a three-bedroom family house in Bevendean, and eight additional homes on the Bristol Estate. A former office in Manor Hill, Whitehawk, has also been converted into two flats and a new house.

Mary Higgs: How woman went undercover in workhouses in 1900s
Mary Higgs: How woman went undercover in workhouses in 1900s

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • BBC News

Mary Higgs: How woman went undercover in workhouses in 1900s

In 1904, a woman left her terraced house in Oldham, disguised in old clothes and pretending to be travelled to a common lodging house and what she found there left her is the story of Mary Higgs, who went undercover to expose the awful conditions in workhouses and common lodging houses in the early story is the latest to feature in BBC Radio Manchester's Hidden Manchester series. The mother-of-four was born in Wiltshire before moving to Bradford due to her father's 1891, she relocated to Oldham after her husband, Reverend Thomas Higgs, was given a job as a minister at Greenacres Congregational Talbot, who has written a book about Mrs Higgs's life, said: "When she came to Oldham she had found her sphere."She found things that she could actually do."It was during this time that Mrs Higgs became concerned about the conditions women faced at workhouses and in common lodging houses so she decided to go undercover alongside a friend. Dr Samantha Shave, a historian with expertise in British welfare policies, said: "The conditions were not great at all. They were very unhealthy in many ways. She would have encountered very stale food, innutritious food. "The bedding could have been full of vermin."After enduring five nights undercover, Mrs Higgs published a report on her investigation had the desired effect, causing shock and uproar. "For this period of time wasn't Higgs clever," said Ms Shave."She knew how to generate public attention for her cause. "She was able to gain evidence by observing and experiencing conditions at this time for women who were homeless." Royal recognition Later that year, Mrs Higgs was called to give evidence before a government inquiry. "She took the opportunity to offer constructive solutions to what she saw as the many inadequacies of the system," said Ms Talbot. She described Mrs Higgs, who was awarded an OBE for her work, as a "driving force" for change, helping to bring about better regulations for women's lodgings, advocating for welfare changes and helping to support many people within her community. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store