Will Young joins Dave Rowntree in Sussex to care for hedgehogs

The pair were at Hurst Hedgehog Haven in Burgess Hill last week and helped with the daily cleaning routing as well as caring for a one-month-old hoglet called Seven.

Dave is the parliamentary candidate for Mid Sussex, which includes Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

He said: “One of the reasons I chose to live in Mid Sussex was the incredible countryside on our doorstep. The natural world is very important to me and if I’m lucky enough to be elected as MP for Mid Sussex, I’ll fight to protect and preserve our wonderful green spaces.”

Will Young, Double Brit Award winner and long time animal activist, said: “Thank you to Ann Winney and her team, the incredible women who run the rescue and to all the amazing volunteers for having us here today.

“I’m delighted Dave invited me to Mid Sussex to help raise awareness of the incredible work done by Hurst Hedgehog Haven. Dave and I have been friends for a long time and I know how important wildlife is to him. If he’s elected, I know he will be champion for not just the people of Mid Sussex but for the natural world too.”

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After hearing first hand of the injuries hedgehogs can receive from garden tools, the pair are urging gardeners to check lawns before strimming and to mow lawns from the inside out to give hedgehogs the chance to scurry away.

It is Dave’s second time standing as a Labour candidate at a general election, after running against Conservative MP Mark Field in the constituency of Cities of London and Westminster.

Dave says he will keep going even if he doesn't make it to Parliament again this time.

"I've fought many an election before for nearly 15 years," he said.

"I stood for Parliament in 2010 under Gordon Brown. I've been a local councillor, I've organised, I've been a candidate in many elections.

"I've still got a day job, I just shan't be giving it up".