GILLS HOG BLOG.

by Gill Dixon,PGCE,MA,BHScHons,RGN.

More hoglets on the way.

Hedgehogs breed between May and September but the time of greatest breeding activity is in May and June. They reach sexual maturity in their second year.

Rather strangely and possibly unwisely  they attempt a second litter around September and these are less likely to do well as they have to put on an enormous amount of weight to survive the winter. Mothers too may feel compelled to hibernate if temperatures drop sharply and/or food supplies are scarce, and this will leave a number of abandoned hoglets who may need help.

Hedgehogs under 450g are unlikely to survive hibernation, but they may not hibernate at all and this is where humans can assist in their survival.

In recent years I have had hedgehogs visiting my feeding stations throughout the year , suggesting that they do not ALL hibernate perhaps because our winters have become very much milder., or perhaps because I am lucky enough to live where there is lots of natural shelter and food on tap.

Be Mindful.....

Now is the time to be very cautious if you are moving leaf piles, thinking of having a bonfire, clearing hedges, or considering your final garden tidy and getting those strimmers out.

When threatened hedgehogs do not have a fight or flight response, they simply  form an impenetrable ball, but this is no match for a garden strimmer or brush cutter. Please then, start your strimming at a height of six inches, or walk through the area to be strimmed before you start.

Hedgehog nests that are disturbed rarely fair well. The mother hedgehog may abandon or kill her babies when she fears predation of her young. It is not a matter of simply relocating the family.

If you see a hedgehog out in daylight it is generally in trouble but one exception to this is a nursing Mum who may venture out to get a little extra food or gather some bedding. She will be moving with purpose and does not need to be caught.

floofmania.com

Any other hog out in the day, needs the assistance of a rescue. A faecal example will need to be examined under a microscope so please don't think you can easily rescue them yourself.

In October/November people begin to worry about hoglets who may not make a weight that will allow them to hibernate successfully (over 450g). Here at the Palace I receive hedgehogs that have been gathered up at night because the finder, with all good intentions, believes they will perish if not overwintered in a rescue. Whilst this may well be the right decision, PLEASE do not rush to take this course of action. It may be that it can be successfully supported where it is, in the wild where it belongs.. Hedgehogs are very easy to interfere with and interfere we do. If a hedgehog is out at night and you feel it is too small (smaller than a mango) and the weather is mild, please offer food, water and shelter (with warm bedding) and give the hedgehog a chance to gain weight whilst remaining wild. Weight gain can be rapid if plenty of food is made available.

Living the whole of winter in a small wooden hutch or plastic box must be pretty miserable for a wild, nomadic animal and so if we can support them to thrive whilst remaining wild that should be out first course of action.

Of course if they are out in the day or appear to be struggling it is right to intervene. If it is after dusk it should be done when all factors are taken into consideration

• Are they safe where they are?
• Can I offer shelter, food and water?
• Can I monitor them?
• Is the weather reasonably mild?
• Are they alone or with a mother?

I am simply asking that when we intervene we do so with consideration for what is in the best interest of the animal. It can be a difficult decision and if you are not sure you must  of course err on the side of caution.  An animal that is hard wired to be wild should not, in my opinion be kept in a small container for months on end unless it is really necessary. If you are not sure please call a rescue who will be happy to advise. 

Please though remember that rescues only have a finite number of spaces and we would always rather they were full of animals needing treatment, not just feeding up.

A list of available rescues can be found here www.yorkshirehedgehogs.co.uk

NB You can support your local hedgehog population by offering kitten biscuits and (very importantly) a shallow bowl of fresh water. 

Gill, has until very recently run a busy and successful hedgehog rescue. She now devotes her time to raising awareness, offering advice, and writing articles about our beloved European Hedgehogs.

 Rumi the wonderhog.

Some of you may remember a certain hedgehog called Rumi who was admitted to Pricklington Palace last summer (2020).

She really was in a pitiful state and every treatment I administered I thought would be the last. But Rumi somehow coped with it all and with lots of TLC, syringe feeding and a determination by both of us, she came through.

I guessed she was an elderly lady and despite her recovery  felt she remained vulnerable and a little frail  and considered that she may be better living out her dotage somewhere kind and protected with food and water on tap.

I put out a plea and a lovely couple (Darren and Jacky) came forward and offered her the perfect garden in Market Weighton. Not too big, but not small, areas of interest and a secluded spot which was set up as her home.

Rumi settled well but then I received the following photograph from Darren

Her troublesome ringworm had returned. Darren was determined to stress her as little as possible and chose to treat it at home and she did beautifully under his care and the ringworm cleared.

She carried on eating and drinking huge amounts and gained a tremendous amount of weight, coped with winter and emerged in Spring 

Quite recently I received the following message from Darren....

' I need some advice on Rumi.

Firstly her ring worm has cleared up from regular spraying by us.
She is doing really well and is always active on a night. Our neighbours have a hedgehog and what we have noticed is Rumi is digging big holes to try and get through to our neighbours.
Do we let her dig the hole big enough and let her go or do we stop her?
We have been filling the holes back in but she is determined!

What do you think?

I was so pleased he asked because it seemed that Rumi felt the time had come to venture further afield and as it was safe for her to do so where she was, Darren decided to give her access to the wider world.

A few days later I received the following message

Update on Rumi.
Firstly we checked her weight. 1.47kg!
We removed the blocks from under the gate so she could go out. It's taken a week or so. She doesn't use her house anymore but does come back for food once or twice a night.

She has gone back totally wild again.. Well apart from the food.

Rumi had returned to the wild!!!

Today i received the following message

.Another update on Rumi...

So we allowed her out of the garden and after a few nights she disappeared but eventually came back and has stayed ever since... The thing is she also brought a friend back with her!
So we now have two hedgehogs

With the message was a video of a very fat and well looking Rumi seemingly very comfortable with another hedgehog. Copy and paste to view...

https://video.fman2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t42.3356-2/210878135_3636263969807638_6789782163880398705_n.mp4/video-1625247644.mp4?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=060d78&_nc_ohc=hW3DctB5igcAX_W4aTL&vabr=126540&_nc_ht=video.fman2-1.fna&oh=19288c241b1d4bd12b80932074df96ff&oe=60E0763A&dl=1

Could this be a case of Spine Dates????? Watch this space.........

What a wonderful outcome for a beleaguered hedgehog who was determined to survive

Thankyou to Darren and Jacky and I really hope she rewards you with some young .

 Morroch Bay.

A special place.

Just back form a lovely week away in South West Scotland (nearest  village Portpatrick) in early June.

We stayed in a place which must be unique in both its setting and its opportunity for absolute peace and harmony with nature.

Morroch bay is a beautiful setting. Two cottages (1/4 mile apart) sit at each end of a bay which is embraced by a crescent of stunning cliffs covered in the most beautiful foliage.  

The approach to the setting is interesting and on foot a little brutal, but extremely good for cardio vascular fitness, or so I kept telling myself. The road was once featured in The Times and purported to be the steepest road in the UK. It is driveable in a 4x4 but otherwise on foot is the order of the day. It didn't get any easier.

We were met by the property manager (Scott Cameron) who transported all our luggage down to the cottage from where we had to park our cars at the top of the cliff. Scott is very pleasant and approachable .

In truth I would have happily spent days holed up right here, reading a book and listening to the sea and the birds but the younger members of our party preferred to venture out and so I only managed the one quiet day.

Morroch Cottage which we rented, sleeps eight people and there is an additional  pod which sleeps two which can also be rented. It is dog friendly but guests are asked not to leave dogs unattended in the property.It is very comfortable. It has a huge lawned area and a lovely 'Pow Wow Corner' where there is an open fire pit and BBQ and it is lovely to sit there of an evening.

I am a huge wild flower and animal lover and this spot really suited me in every way. A seal, an otter in the harbour, deer on the slopes, two peregrine falcons nesting, a buzzard and an oyster catcher nesting just beyond our grass area. The lawn is outlined by a strip of beautiful wild flowers beyond which is the ocean. A rocky beach with rock pools and shells galore. 

The second day of our trip we ventured on a coastal path from the bay to Port Patrick. A lovely walk along a beautiful path which was fairly easy to navigate. Splendid views. The walk took us around one and a half hours each way, and we arrived in Portpatrick to a lovely sunny welcome. The village is served by a couple of shops where one can buy essentials and a number of sea front pubs which welcomed dogs outside (one inside). The food is good and in one pub (The Crown) it is available all day. There is a pleasant harbour, a putting green and a small sheltered beach area. Boat trips ca be arranged in the harbour, weather permitting.

The third day we went to one of the many beautiful botanical gardens. The area is blessed by the gulf stream and so some quite tender and exotic plants can be grown. Castle Kennedy didn't disappoint. 70 acres of stunning gardens and dogs are welcomed.

On our fourth day we ventured on a gorgeous circular walk along a coastal path which started and finished in Portpatrick. The walk took around 3 1/2 hours in total. the weather was cool but perfect for walking although the sea mist obscured what must be stunning views on a clear day. Lots of beautiful little bays and the coastal wildflowers were a picture.

The path was very steep and uneven in places but the walk was very worthwhile.

We also visited the Lighthouse at Port Galloway, the most southerly point in Scotland which is a lovely trip. An RSPB reserve is to be found there.

All these trips were dog friendly, but check your hounds for ticks at the end of the day. Our little dog picked up quite a few. Midges were evident early morning and late evening but were not really troublesome.

It really is a very special spot, if you are looking to get away from the business and stresses of everyday life., can respect nature and not disturb nesting birds, and want to hear nothing but the softs lapping of waves upon the shore and the call of birds.

If you have a big family group you can rent exclusive access to the whole 38 acres!

https://www.morroch-bay.com/

Be part of something wonderful....PLEASE.

Craig and his sons are taking on a fantastic (if gruelling challenge) to help to raise the money to sink a bore hole in a small Village.....  

I thought you might like to know a little bit about the project and how my friendship with the village started and why I am asking you to please help me make this dream come true.

I was introduced to the Village of Kiseeka a few years ago. It is a village in Uganda, East Africa which is a very poor (and corrupt) country.

A friend, Julie, who sponsors a number of children in the village was visiting and she came across a little girl lying on a doormat in a doorway. She had only her grandparents and an elder sister and had no bed to sleep on. I had recently lost my beloved Mum who LOVED children and so I thought that an effort to make Liberty's life a successful one, would be a fitting tribute to her. 

Liberty was a very sad and shy little girl who found it hard to be with people. Her Mum is very ill (mentally) and her dad is absent. I decided that I would like to buy her a mattress and send her to school and I started that a few years ago. I asked my friend to go to the market and buy her a doll and this is Liberty with that doll. It was her first ever toy.

 While she was there Julie sent me a photo of a little girl with some health problems ( a huge umbilical hernia). Her Mum couldn’t afford to have her checked over and so I paid for that. It was a total of £40 which was not so much to me, but when you consider that in Uganda a qualified teacher earns £600 per annum, you soon realise how prohibitively expensive this amount is. A hernia can of course be fatal if it strangulates and would be treated so very routinely in this country. A scan was done and it was decided that as Suzanne is happy and active and otherwise in robust health, and with the risks of paediatric surgery in a third world country, that she was best left alone. She is though on someones radar now. I always knew that Suzanne would have to stay as part of my 'family' and when she turned four my youngest son Max decided to sponsor her through her education.

Here is Suzanne. She has a lovely Mum and three sisters and is a happy, loved and sociable girl, just starting school.

 The Village has no running water and no electricity and the families live in very poor circumstances. Many of the men folk just move away and children are often abandoned. Women are at risk of attack and rape and it is difficult for people to break the cycle of poverty when they have no education.

 A lady called Doreen runs a project called Christs Grace Ministry (you can see it on Facebook ) https://www.facebook.com/www.careforthem.org

and she raises money for the village and runs and orphanage and buys supplies for those most in need.

I now recruit new sponsors and raise money as I am able for various projects..

 The children walk about 3 kms every morning to fill up jerry cans with water from a water hole which is used by animals too. This water is used for all their basic needs.

Here is one of the boys with a Jerry can. It must be very hard for these children to carry them when full,but needs must.

Recently I asked an engineering company to visit the village to see if they could find a source of water. They drilled into the ground and a bore hole can be made. This is basically a well that is dug a long way down until it finds water, and then the water is pumped up to the surface. This is what it will look like in the end.

 It will be sunk in the centre of the village and people will be able to get fresh drinking water 'on tap' for the very first time.

 

 

Craig and his family recently took on the sponsorship of a little girl in the Village and when he heard of the bore hole project he wanted to help to make the dream become a reality.

The total cost is £3000, and Craig hopes to raise £1,000 of this via donations from you lovely people.

In a fantastically generous gesture, a small but perfectly formed Charity called Wood U Waste has offered to match fund up to £1,000 so we REALLY need to reach this target. Just a fiver will become a really meaningful £10 and get us closer and closer to the final amount needed.

 Many people feel that initiatives such as this foster a society that is dependent on charity but I disagree. In villages such as this there is very little way out of this abject poverty without an education.

Fresh, clean drinking water will enhance so many lives, prevent a huge amount of illness, and allow access to water for the most vulnerable who cannot get to the water hole on their own.

 Liberty is now a happy sociable girl and Doreen tells me that sponsorship really makes the children feel loved and important.

 She loves school and is learning to read and write and hopefully can grow into an independent person who can help her family and friends. I look forward seeing to what she will become and in the meantime Doreen updates me and I send regular parcels to keep a bond of friendship and support with her. Sadly her Grandpa has just passed away and so the future for this beautiful little six year old girl has  become a little more precarious but I know that Doreen will ensure that her needs are met.

 

 

 

Each and every one of you will be part of a wonderful thing.

Could you pop in a pound???

Thankyou, from the bottom of my heart.

You can sponsor Craig and his boys here

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/edward-thackray?utm_term=yqYRpM6Z5&fbclid=IwAR3ZpHDJxEEb4th_M8XKw51tF9OfaLrjIlfKrt0DU_lUD5j-yaEGVFhBSNU

How to attract and support hedgehogs in your own garden.

Gills Hog Blog.

by Gill Dixon PGCE,MA,BHScHons,RGN.

Hedgehog friendly gardens.

 I was recently asked by someone how he might attract hedgehogs to his garden and what he should do to enhance his space to suit them better. Such a great question and worth exploring a little.

Hedgehogs are wild, nomadic animals and as their name suggests they love hedgerows and areas of wilderness where they can hunt and nest and be protected from predators. They are solitary too (except during the bi annual mating rituals) and are not territorial. They will stay on a patch and become familiar with it but do not fight over it. The males will fight over females though during mating seasons.

Our gardens are fantastic sources of food and shelter for them, or they can be.

Over the years (and especially in the last 50 or so) we have encroached upon their environment drastically and they have had to learn to adapt as best they can to live along side us. They are not  doing brilliantly at that, but currently they are doing better in towns than they are in the countryside and this may be because they are being supported by residents.

They are on the whole harmless  crepuscular  animals (seen most at dusk and dawn ) and should not be seen in the daytime (apart from busy mums in Spring and Autumn who will be moving with purpose).

They are great for the garden, eating lots of the things we class as pests . Please avoid pesticides and slug pellets.

When we look at how to help them it is worth looking from the bottom up. They are insectivores, with a preference for caterpillars and beetles and our insectivore numbers have been declining drastically in recent years.

So the first thing we can do is to leave an area of the garden to grow wild. Even a small area will help enormously and if you can add some wild flowers to the mix to encourage insects all the better. Just stopping mowing a small section of lawn. 

An area like this takes very little management so it's less work for us too and is absolutely beautiful to behold so it really is a win, win investment.

Improve the habitat further by introducing a log pile which both beetles and hedgehogs love.

You may want to buy a hedgehog house , but it wont necessarily be used if you have other attractive areas). There are some lovely ones here https://hedgehogsrus.co.uk/shop/ols/products/hedgehog-house

Another hugely important consideration is a supply of fresh clean water. This should be available at all times and a plant pot holder makes a fantastic shallow container.

So many come into  rescues during the summer who are severely dehydrated. This simple addition to your garden really will save lives, so if you do nothing else, please do this

You may also want to feed your visiting hogs and they will enjoy some supplementary food. Cat/kitten biscuits are all you need to offer to supplement their diet and ideally you should do this in a feeding station which prevents cats and foxes from eating the food.( on the whole).

These can be  constructed really easily and there are a whole range to choose from . You can find more information here https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/cat-proof-hedgehog-food/

Hedgehogs do not become reliant on the food so don't worry if you are not going to be there.

So now we have considered  leaving a bit of grass to grow and sorted out food and water,  they have to be able to get to it. We erect walls and fences that prevent hedgehogs from entering gardens . So create a hedgehog highway. Chat with your neighbours and ask if they will do the same. A 13cm square hole in boundary fences is all it takes. Have a look here https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/

If we all did this we would save countless hedgehogs as they can travel safely in search of food (up to 2 kms a night) . It is estimated that some 350,000 hedgehogs a year die on our roads!

Great stuff! You have now created  habitat, food and water and a highway . I can almost hear the patter of tiny feet as our prickly friends approach, but having done these essential and fantastic things we really do have to be sure that our gardens are as safe as they can be for these precious and now endangered animals.

Hedgehogs have not had time to evolve to be able to cope with the rapid changes we have enforced upon them and if they can get into trouble, believe me they will do.  

 

So here are a few more things you might like to consider.....

• Ensure that any nets are lifted 12 inches from the ground at night time.
• Ensure drains are covered.
• Please walk through any area to be strimmed (if you really HAVE to strim). Hedgehogs do not have a flight or fight response and simply curl up in a ball when threatened, They are no match for garden machinery and will always come off worst. I will save you the trauma of the more gruesome injuries but every year rescues deal with them. All absolutely unnecessary.

• Keep an eye on your dogs, they can and do cause horrific injuries and during nesting times (spring and autumn) hedgehogs are particularly vulnerable. Just shine a torch around before you let your dog out for its last toilet trip or if you know that they will worry hedgehogs keep them on a lead. Watch for them sniffing around favourite nesting places under sheds, wendy houses and pallets.
• Garden ponds can be very attractive during dry periods and whilst hedgehogs are good swimmers, they do need to be able to get out of the pond. Please ensure there is a shallow slope or a ridged ramp that allows they to exit safely or they will most certainly perish. A plank of wood covered in chicken wire will suffice., or a slice of rubber doormat just laid into the water.
• Litter can also be an issue, especially if it smells of food. Elastic bands, baler twine , plastic can rings and discarded dog poo bags are all hazards.
• Disturbing nests can be an issue and as our days get warmer and longer we are keen to get out there and start those garden projects. Sadly it is also when hedgehogs have their babies and so please be mindful when dismantling sheds or lifting pallets or piles of leaves. Sadly when a nest is disturbed the mother very often kills her babies, so it can be a catastrophe. 
• Poisons, pesticides, slug pellets should all be labelled 'small mammal killers', whether they are eaten directly by hedgehogs or via the insects they were designed to kill, the effects are the same. Nothing can be done and the hedgehog dies a painful and protracted death as a result. 
• Rat traps, trap hedgehogs too, so if you have to use them, simply raise them 12 inches from the ground. rats are great climbers, hedgehogs less so.
• Check your garden litter before lighting a bonfire and light it from one side giving anything chance to escape if they are hiding/nesting there. Unfortunately fireworks celebrations occur just as hedgehogs are thinking of hibernating and bonfires are very attractive sleeping sites.

I am sure this illustrates that there are a huge number of hazards out there but small changes can have a huge and positive impact on our only indigenous spikey animals

.

One other thing to note is that hedgehogs are very susceptible to stress and they do not want to be in contact with humans. If you HAVE to handle them do so wearing gloves, as they carry a number of diseases which are transmissible to humans.

Gill Dixon ran a very busy hedgehog rescue for a number of years  and cared for around 600 animals a year. 

 Safe haven needed for ...

Lady Scabbers.

Lady Scabbers of Pricklington Palace https://www.facebook.com/pricklingtonpalace was admitted via End Cottage vets in a pretty terrible state. 

She had a full blown case of mange/ringworm , a huge, historic largely healed wound on her back and round worm. Her skin is leathery and thick and she is unable to curl up to protect herself. Her back legs are a little bent but she moves well and at speed when she needs to.

 This is her 'curled'

She is an aged hog, but a fighter and she has responded really well to treatment, is eating well and improving each day. I have every reason to believe that this old lady will and should experience some kind of freedom in the near future, but she is vulnerable.

I am looking for a nice, leafy, quiet garden which is completely secure where she can live out her dotage safely and with a little support.

The garden should be ...

• Grassy and with plenty of shrubs and borders for her to explore.
• Absolutely secure, so  no way for her to escape (she will if she can).
• Free from hazards (drains, nets etc)
• No deep ponds
• Preferably no dogs (but that is negotiable).
• Quiet (so children playing noisily nearby is not a good mix).
• Close enough for her to return to me if required .

She will need food placing out in a feeding station every night and a shallow bowl of fresh water close by at all times. A hedgehog house (which I will provide).  She currently  eats half of  tin of meaty cat food every night but hopefully she will hunt for some food (I am happy to provide a starter pack).

You may not see much of her but it would be nice if you can monitor her when possible to see that she is reasonably well and she is in her house on colder days where she can be warm and dry..

Any health care needs I will provide.

If you think you can provide what I am looking for please either contact me via the Pricklington palace Facebook page or email me at gilldix@talktalk.net or call the number shown.

I will visit the garden if possible, but if you can provide photos with your enquiry that would help.

Please only respond if you are serious and can tick all the requirements. 

Thankyou so much.

Hedgehogs and Developers.

 Hedgehogs and Developers.

As a hedgehog rescuer I spend countless hours tending to sick and injured hedgehogs, ( 290 last year).  It  is a life choice which was mine to make and in truth  I do it because I CAN.

There is an interesting dichotomy in the UK attached to our only indigenous prickly mammals, they are simultaneously our most loved and yet beleaguered animals. At current rates of destruction they cannot possibly survive long term, and in the short to medium term they may well struggle.

They are  currently afforded little real protection At the time of writing developers do not have to survey for them routinely as they do for species with better protection. Hedgehogs have no fight of flight response and when great swathes of land are cleared  the hedgehogs are simply cleared with it. Buried alive or bulldozed  at worse, displaced at best.

These little animals do travel in search of food (up to 2 km a night) and we need to keep them off our busy roads. It is estimated that some 350,000 hogs a year are killed on our roads. The easy answer is for people to cut a 13cm square hole in their boundary fences, creating a highway through gardens for the safe passage of these curious little creatures. It is SO easy.

In my nearest small town, Howden, a huge swathe of what was wilderness was cleared recently for the erection of 1,000 new homes, by various developers. Howden is a small, historic picturesque town in the East Riding of Yorkshire with a Minster dating back to 1228 AD. 1,000 new homes has a huge impact on the infrastructure, the people and the wildlife.  It is small and friendly and people care about their town and welcome newcomers with sincerity.

Of course all developers have ecological surveys done but they do not have to consider hedgehogs and so if they are 'not there' nothing has to be done to mitigate the impact of this destruction of their habitat. A recent petition to parliament hopes to change this. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/550379

In July 2019 new  ‘Planning Practice Guidance’ was published  which gives advice re biodiversity net gain. It is not an outright legal obligation to provide enhancement such as  hedgehog highways but surely any developer with a real interest in their impact on the natural world will pay it due regard.   There is no real cost, but it does require the desire to make this tiny change. Small changes  can have a hugely beneficial impact on hedgehog survival.

 An  excellent free guide for developers  is available here  https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/development/

I , therefore, made it my mission to establish the 'green credentials' of the participating developers. 

I was delighted by the first development by Harron Homes https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/east-yorkshire/york-vale-gardens/

I called into the site office to discover that hedgehog highways had been incorporated into the development  from the outset enabling hedgehogs to pass through the area (which was after all their hunting ground) in search of food. This was done as part of the planning process. The builder is also adding areas of wildness and calm which can hopefully be enjoyed by both residents and wildlife. Great work Harron Homes!

The second development is by Bellway Homes  . Their environmental policy can be viewed on line...but extracts from it read...

' We aim to comply, and where practicable, exceed all relevant environmental legislation and regulations.'

'We aim to minimise adverse effects on the environment '

When they began the development https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/yorkshire/imperial-gardens a colleague  spoke with the project manager about the inclusion of a hedgehog highway and was met with positivity and seemingly genuine interest in the idea. However, sadly they failed to deliver and the connectivity across this massive estate was, therefore, blocked.

After some time of no response to my enquiries, an enormous amount of time and tenacity and a little political pressure  the sustainability manager finally made contact and after some wrangling and discussion  he has done a wonderful thing in taking on board the importance of this tiny adjustment. I am delighted to say that they are now installing highways in all unoccupied and yet to be build properties and have offered to purchase the lovely Timmy Timloc surrounds for anyone already in residence who would like to help this project. One of the residents of the development has offered to coordinate this and I thanks Vicki for her time and enthusiasm. I couldn't have wished for a better outcome and I thank Bellway for listening and  eventually responding so positively..

https://www.timloc.co.uk/sustainability/hedgehog-highway-by-timloc  

 The next development is by Lovell homes ( https://www.lovell.co.uk/developments/)  and a quick email to the CEO of the Company was responded to very quickly and very positively. A highway had not been included but he spoke with the development manager at the Howden Site , Marlena Przewuska the very next day. She responded...

 'We just try to be a responsible developer and if we can achieve gains by doing something so minimal everyone wins !' 

A 15cm hole will be placed in all the boundary fences. I was thrilled with this response but will of course  monitor it..

The development in Howden can , therefore, now support the survival of hedgehogs who are now able to  travel across it via gardens rather than on busy roads where they are likely to perish. 

Why is it important you may ask, after all they are only hedgehogs?

It is important because they are a keystone species, and a barometer  of how well we are doing in the natural world. 

It is important because this must be happening all over the country as vast swathes of wilderness are destroyed in the name of 'progress'. 

It is important because  I hope that generations to come  will get the opportunity to see these curious little creatures snuffling in their gardens. 

It is important because I  am asking so little of people who can do so much, with so little effort and no added expense .

It is important because I spend endless hours tending to the injuries and illnesses which are largely due to the effects of human impact . I guess that seeing so many of these beleaguered creatures, suffering at the hands of mankind has sharpened my desire to do what little I can.

It is important because in the big scheme of things, I fear that hedgehogs are doomed and I think we should all care about that.

Surely those concerned with sustainability and biodiversity in our Council departments should be promoting anything that will help to try and balance out the hugely negative impact  these developments have on our native flora and fauna.

My mission is to make a difference garden by garden, village by village, and town by town .

If you would like to join me in that please ensure that you have a means for hedgehogs to get into and out of your garden and have a conversation with your neighbours to request them to do the same and please make sure you have a shallow bowl of clean water available at all times.

I hope that now I have introduced  the directors of these huge and profitable companies to the idea of hedgehog highways , that they will become a regular feature in future envelopments.

 

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Dreaming of Spring. Think HEDGEHOG

 

Gills Hog Blog

 

Post from Pricklington Palace.

 By Gill Dixon,PGCE,MA,BHScHons,RGN

  Dreaming of Spring. Think Hedgehog.

 

I’ve decided to get in early with my news re Spring. 

The days are just beginning to get longer, bulbs are poking their leaves through the ground and with that comes the promise of Spring.

We all love Spring, which is a good enough reason to mention it but in a recent conversation with a builder he told me that currently his books are full of requests for the dismantling and re erection of sheds.

 If you are thinking of removing any substantial structure in your garden please check them out carefully. Under sheds and playhouses are excellent hibernation spots and then they may well be used for nests to raise hoglets

                                                               THINK HEDGEHOG.

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Its about being mindful, and considering the risks of disturbing our now endangered prickly friends.

 

If you do dig up a hibernating hedgehog (they seem to be dead), don’t panic. Gently place the hog in a box surrounded by the nesting matter and call your nearest rescue for advice. see  www.yorkshirehedgehogs.co.uk) . The BHPS can help too 

01584 890 801

The weather is likely to be the biggest factor that determines when we start to see more hedgehogs out and about. Some may not have bothered with hibernation at all, some will sleep through February/March and some will wake early. 

If you see any around at the moment do leave food out for them (cat biscuits are fine) and a shallow dish of water. If they are not hibernating or have just woken from hibernation,  they really need sustenance. 

 I have seen a few posts saying that hedgehogs look thin and need to be taken to a rescue. They will be thin if they have been hibernating for months. Unless they look obviously injured and/or distressed and if they are out after dark, just feed them up. A hedgehog out after dark should be left to be a hedgehog.They will show themselves to be ill and in need of help by emerging in daylight.

It is a little early for breeding but worth a mention as our mild weather has confused some hogs and some were seen to be mating  over the winter months. A hedgehog who is out in daylight but is moving with purpose should be left alone. They can be quite brazen when they are intent on nesting or in search of a little extra sustenance.  If you find babies DO NOT handle them. Mother hogs will kill and /or eat  babies that have human scent on them or if they are feeling threatened. Mothers will often abandon nests temporarily but they WILL return (sometimes hours later).

Please try not to interfere any more that you really have to.

 

Don't forget those highways!!! Now is the time to ensure they have free access into and out of your garden (and educate your neighbours too). Some great highway signs available here (but the hole 13 cm square) is more important than this signage.  https://hedgehogsrus.co.uk/shop/ols/products/hedgehog-highway-surround

Those gardeners amongst us will want to take up our rakes and spades as soon as there is a lovely day but PLEASE take care not to disturb any piles of leaves that might have a hibernating hedgehog deep inside them (see the photos below)..  Take a few moments to look around the garden for hedgehog hazards.  Any drain covers that have blown away should be replaced, loose netting needs to be gathered up, ponds may need new escape ramps, and fences repaired .

Hedgehog nests can be difficult to spot, so please don’t plunge a rake or pitch fork into a pile of leaves in your garden.

                                                                  THINK HEDGEHOG.

 

    

 

Take care too if you decide to use compost from your heap (lovely warm places to hide).

                                                         THINK HEDGEHOG.

 One last word about those deadly strimmer’s and hedge cutters. Hedgehogs do not have a flight or fight response; they simply curl up in the face of danger. Those prickles are no defence from many of the tools we use in our gardens. Please save these little beasts the trauma of these avoidable mechanical injuries and us rescuers the trauma of dealing with them. Simply walk through the area to be cleared or brush trough it with a broom handle.

If you want any further information please feel free to contact me by phone or social media or check out www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk.

                             Rescuers are always happy to give advice if you are not sure.

 

Gill Dixon runs Pricklington Palace Hedgehog rescue  in Howden, East Yorks.  Purely voluntarily and single handily. Please visit  www.facebook.com/pricklingtonpalace/ to support her work. Donations via www.paypal.me/Dixon1829