You might think that the world of hedgehogs was relatively tiny in the great scheme of political ruction that surrounds us - but I beg to differ ...

Yesterday I had a meeting with Steve O'Connell AM - a Conservative Assembly Member in City Hall, London. He is moving to Dorset in a year and wants to use that time to cause a little trouble - he does not have to worry so much about the tedious political machinations of the work. He can just say what he wants.

And what he wants is for hedgehogs to be encouraged and supported - and the best way to do that is through making planners insert the concept of Wildlife Corridors into the London Plan. This is really exciting news - and he had more to offer ...

He used to work alongside Kit Malthouse on the London Assembly - and told me the news that had broken as I was travelling into London - that Malthouse has now added his name to those aiming for Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister ... 

If you are aiming for such high office what you really need is a GOOD NEWS story. His portfolio as Housing Minister is not easy - either you promise lots of new homes and they get built on green fields and people get upset - or they don't get built and people get upset. But a promise he can make and keep is to help hedgehogs - to get wildlife corridors written into the NPPF - National Planning Policy Framework - which is essentially the rulebook by which planners have to guide local authorities.

So the run up to our meeting next Tuesday is looking promising and I like to think for the first time every, anywhere in the world, the hedgehog vote might just be the decisive moment in the election of a national leader!

Again - there is no way this meeting - either with Steve O'Connell or Kit Malthouse would be happening without you and your hard work sharing this petition far and wide.

The picture is not very hedgehoggy - but makes me happy - it is half term - so I took my son Pip with me - he sat and read through the meeting in City Hall and then we had a very interesting two hours exploring HMS Belfast, moored just outside the hall (there was also pizza and Forbidden Planet to make his day!)

Don't forget that there is now a 2,000 strong and very active Hedgehog Highways group on Facebook - BUT - I promise to keep these updates coming too! And another book - can't remember whether I told you - but have been commissioned to write another book about hedgehogs ... and while some might think that three books about hedgehogs is enough ... I have a fourth in mind as well!