As I write this update I should be sitting in a meeting with Kit Malthouse - the Minister for Housing to whom this petition is directed. 

But ...

‘Dear Hugh,

Thank you for your continued work on the Hedgehog Highway petition. I am so sorry I have had to postpone the meeting, but unforeseen events have made me unable to meet with you tomorrow. I will, however, be sure to get the meeting rescheduled and promise to work with you to advance the cause!

Kit’

When his team contacted me last week I was angry and upset - this moment we have been campaigning for for six months, snatched away - but I did what it is always best to do in such circumstances ... I did NOT respond immediately. 

The ease of social media allows us to reply with the knee-jerk - and this is not always the most constructive way forward. If I had, I doubt that I would have received the above letter from the Minister. 

And the 'unforeseen events'? Well, as I said in the last update, he has gone and entered the leadership race for the Conservatives. Which has resulted in him being rather busy

This will not dampen my resolve - in fact I will continue to press the cause, raise awareness about the plight of our hedgehogs and share information as to how we can best help the nation's favourite animal. Tomorrow I talk to the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) at their conference in Sheffield about Hedgehog Highways. On the 15th June I will talk to the Green Liberal Democrats at their conference about the importance of a connected landscape. And not forgetting the primary school in Oxfordshire on Friday! Everyone needs to know and I am happy to talk to them all (though sometimes I do need my expenses covering!)

A couple of tangents (otherwise I will be bombarding you too often) - have you ever wanted to work on hedgehog conservation? Do you have what it takes to run the Hedgehog Street campaign? The job of Hedgehog Officer has just been advertised - and if it were not London based I would not be sharing it as I would be trying to get the post ... but someone out there might be perfect - have a look.

And a look at another contender for the Tory crown - Rory Stewart ... as he gives me my one (and I imagine only ever) mention in the House of Commons. My bit is 9min 40sec into the speech ... I am proud to have been referred to as 'eccentric' in that chamber!

So - I am sorry to disappoint you with this news, I am sure many of you will want to do what I wanted to do ... but I think in this instance we are more likely to get what we want, and what hedgehogs need, by staying calm and keeping firm to our resolve. And I will be back with further updates - we are not giving up, I promise. 

This update's picture is of my boy Pip with a hedgehog that had been found out in the day in a friend's garden. So we took it off to a rescue. And aware that some may complain - I want to brag about Pip for just a brief moment. Actually, no, I won't - but watch this video of him and his choir and you will see why I am so proud!