Dear all 525 thousand of you ... thank you ... 

Last week I got a response from Kit Malthouse - the Housing Minister to whom this petition is directed. To start with he was 'minded' to take me (and you!) seriously - and now we have this chance - on 4th June - to see whether he is willing to take hedgehogs - and all wildlife - truly seriously as we meet to discuss how to make our call for hedgehog highways a reality. 

This is not mean feat - my MP, Anneliese Dodds, has made it clear that he is not keen on 'red tape' - on loading more restrictions and controls onto the backs of developers. He would rather it be market driven.

Well I am not sure that we can rely on the market - I think we need to help create the an environment in which the necessary becomes practical. Currently we, as individuals, have to work to undo the damage created by the market - because we are able to look at the world from a different perspective.

I have been inspired over the last few weeks by people able to see from a different perspective. I have loved watching my daughter join the School Strikes (and be interviewed for the Guardian and appear on What If - the trailer marking the 10th anniversary of The Age of Stupid ... see if you can spot my David Attenborough impersonation!) - we are writing an article together for a national magazine about it! I have admired the determination of Extinction Rebellion as they have calmly and nonviolently raised the subject of climate change up the political agenda - the nonviolence is important to me. With my wife, we made a film for the Quakers called Nonviolence for a Change - have a watch and let me know what you think.

But perhaps most thrilling has been the perspective of a young Swedish person - Greta Thunberg - who speaks truth to power with honesty and clarity. She is obviously touching a nerve - because the mouthpieces of the far-right are now beginning to attack - and I do worry for her and hope she is well supported. She is the same age as my daughter. The photograph with this update was taken by my wife - Zoe Broughton - I try so very hard not to be jealous of the fact that she has met so many amazing people in the course of her work ... still trying to get over her meeting Jane Goodall! 

The icing on the cake that I do not need - but would love to find - is Greta talking about her love for hedgehogs! Maybe I should drop her a line and ask!

Thank you all again - there is NO WAY I would have got this meeting with the Minister without you. I will, of course, keep you up to date with developments - and any other hedgehog stories that pass me by. Oh - and please remember - this does not mean that the petition is over!!! We still need to keep the pressure on until we have a practical result.