How Hedgehogs Can Help Heal: Nature’s Role in Mental Health

What do hand-knitted hedgehogs have to do with mental health recovery? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down and chatted with our Board Director, Edward Pickering, about the charity he supports and the powerful impact of nature in healing mental health.

At Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary in Hertfordshire, the stories unfolding every day are not just about rescuing wildlife — they’re about rescuing people, too. IDS Media UK is proud to support this incredible charity, which has become a powerful example of how nature, purpose, and community can come together to improve mental wellbeing.

A Hedgehog a Day

The sanctuary is home to more than just hedgehogs. It’s become a haven for people looking for connection and meaning. One volunteer, once housebound and struggling with low mood, found her way back to purpose through a surprisingly simple act: knitting. After being invited to contribute hand-knitted hedgehogs to the sanctuary’s shop, she now crafts them every day. The act of creating something that supports a good cause gave her renewed energy and joy — and helped ease her anxiety.

Another volunteer, who had previously relied on antidepressants, began spending time at the sanctuary’s hedgehog hospital. The combination of outdoor activity, a structured routine, and knowing her work made a difference had a profound impact on her wellbeing. She no longer needs medication, crediting her time with the hedgehogs and the natural world around them.

Why Nature Matters

Science backs up what these stories show. Nature-based interventions — from gardening to animal care — are increasingly recognised for their therapeutic value. Being outdoors, caring for animals, and having a sense of contribution are all key drivers of improved mental health outcomes.

Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary, founded by Martin Maylin and supported by over 70 volunteers, is a case study in how this works in real life. And it echoes the values IDS Media UK holds dear: that caring environments, both physical and emotional, are essential to public wellbeing.

From Waiting Rooms to Wildlife

While IDS Media’s work takes place in GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals, the principle is the same: we believe in giving people access to information and resources that help them feel seen, supported, and empowered. That’s why we’re proud to support a charity that shows just how powerfully a small creature like a hedgehog can impact a human life.

Whether it’s placing a poster in a GP surgery or planting a tree to protect a hedgehog, it’s all connected. Better mental health starts with empathy, awareness, and action.

Get Involved

You can support Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word. Visit www.hornbeamwood.org.uk to learn more about their work and follow their journey on social media.

At IDS Media UK, we believe partnerships like this help remind us all why we do what we do: to care for people, however and wherever they need it most.