Hedgehogs. What's not to like? Their Mrs Tiggywinkle sniffle, sniffle, snuffle noses and their twinkle, twinkle eyes make them almost irresistible. But while in Beatrix Potter's tale, Mrs T thrives as a washerwoman, in real life hedgehogs aren't doing so well. In fact, there's been a drastic decline in numbers.
The latest survey, conducted with more than 2,600 people by BBC Gardeners' World magazine, found that 51% of people did not see a hedgehog at all in 2016, up from 48% in 2015. Just 12% saw a hedgehog regularly. The decline is not entirely understood but the main factors are thought to be the loss of habitat and road deaths.
So as Jo Pickering, a volunteer for Hull Hedgehog Hospital, said in a break at our local Wildlife Explorers meeting: 'We need to get youngsters interested so they can help save one of our most iconic garden favourites'.
Jo is basically a foster mum for hedgehogs and she, along with RSPB volunteer, Geoff Edmonds, was bombarded by questions from around twenty youngsters eager to know more.
From 'What should we give hedgehogs to eat? (Answer: dog or car food, preferably chicken flavour and NEVER fish flavour) to 'What's the biggest threat to hedghogs in a garden? (Answer: strimmers, football nets and slug pellets) to How how long do hedgehogs live? (Answer: 3-5 years), everyone, including accompanying grown-ups, were keen to get the facts.
No matter how interesting things are though a break in proceedings is always welcome. So everyone took time out as group leader, Margaret Boyd, got the youngsters running around in different directions in an one-your-feet running around Q+A session (Left for Wrong and Right for Right) as they attempted to get the correct answer to a host of hedgehog facts. Anyone wanting an anti-fidget plan, take note.
Back to Jo, We all know 'Mums' shouldn't have favourites but has one hedgehog ever captured Jo's heart? Oh yes, and her name was Lottie. 'I spent around 12 hours just picking the ticks off her - she was covered in them'.
Since Lottie, there's been a constant stream of abandoned and injured 'urchins' and Jo can find herself caring for around a dozen hedgehogs in any one week. Currently she's looking after Hettie, Henrietta and Herbert to name just a few. Jo is quick to add that the hedgehogs she takes in are never treated as pets and are released in safe habitats as soon as they are able to fend for themselves.
At the end of the session there was an opportunity to write down all the important things that had been discussed -Jo is committed to getting kids to share their knowledge back at school. 'Encouraging youngsters to pass on what they've learnt to their school friends is a wonderful way of spreading our message'. And from the enthusiasm shown during the evening, an awful lot of essays and projects next term are definitely going to involve hedgehogs.
For information about the Wildlife Explorers Group please contact Margaret Boyd at margaret.mboyd7@gmail.com