I am still cogitating - still trying to work out what the news that arrived before the great switcheroo in government really meant for hedgehogs. 

I got a very friendly email from the Deputy Director of Planning Policy and Reform, at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In it she said, 

“Guidance is a material consideration in planning decisions so it’s an important step especially until the Environment Bill becomes law. It doesn’t quite carry the weight of legislation – so it can’t force developers or local authorities to do something, but it sets very clear expectations and has to be considered in each application.”

So I think this is good cause to keep the petition open. And to bide my time. I hope you can cope with the suspense! But what I aim to do is try and arrange a meeting with Esther McVey - the new housing minister - or her boss, Robert Jenrick. I want to get clarity on what will happen. I worry that the fine words will lead to nothing - and if we do not remain vigilant we will have to start all over again.

In other news - because it has been extremely busy in the hedgehog world in the last couple of weeks … 

I did a ‘Tate Late’ - at an event in Tate Modern hosted by our very own change.org - wonderful to meet the team who have been instrumental in driving this petition out into the world - and also to share a roundtable discussion with the amazing Bella Lack - I have had the pleasure of meeting this powerful young voice a few times before … at 16 she already has the strength, honesty and clarity to make a real difference for wildlife.

I was delighted to find many supporters at Country File Live - I ran a HedgeOX stall that pushed out a message of hedgehog love and conservation, and recruited lots more signatures to the petition as well. Hundreds of clay/pinecone hedgehogs were made, thousands of people spoken to - and I got visits from Ellie Harrison (always Herisson to me!) and Mike Dilger (thanks to both for posing for the photos so elegantly!). It was a great opportunity to spread the word about another hedgehog development - the Witney Hedgehog Day on the 13th October … so if you are in the area, do put a note in your diary. It will be fun!

Then I did a day long hedgehog ecology training session in Sheffield University with land managers from universities around the UK - organised by the tireless Jo from Hedgehog Friendly Campus - a brilliant initiative that looks to getting these institutions to take hedgehogs (and other wildlife) seriously - funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. 

Oh - and for a moment of eccentricity - on the way back from Sheffield I was contacted by NPR - the closest thing the USA has to the BBC and asked to contribute to a News Quiz style programme ... the hedgehog segment is 7 minutes long but right at the end, my 8 seconds of glory is all but drowned out by applause ... even so, it is worth it for a very sideways look at our favourite beastie! 

I hope you are all managing to find some holiday … feels like I have not quite yet. I will do my best to answer questions on this page - but it is proving easier to manage on the Facebook Group … or track me down through my website and email me there (can’t promise a speedy response as both kids on holiday while neither my wife nor I really have much spare time!)