When will the hedgehog world ever quieten down? Not sure what I will do with myself if we save the hedgehog - though that would be a happy retirement! 

First, something that may seem like competition - another petition. But this is different. Change.org do a wonderful job but the petitions on here do not have the same level of power when it comes to getting government to make a change. So with my British Hedgehog Preservation Society hat on I commend to you this petition that is aimed directly at parliament. 

The ask is straightforward - we want to see extra legal protection given to the hedgehog and this can be achieved by changing its status under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). If we get 10,000 signatures we get a response from Government. If we get 100,000 signatures it has to be debated in the House of Commons.

So, PLEASE consider signing and sharing. We have shown how effective a petition can be with this - now let's give a boost to the next.

And in other news - the campaign to ban the use of the molluscicide, metaldehyde. This slug-killer will no longer be allowed to be used on farms and in gardens from March 2022. The Farming Minister, Victoria Prentis said, “The scientific evidence is clear - the risks metaldehyde poses to the environment and to wildlife are too great."

This is not a change that has come because government suddenly decided to help hedgehogs and other wildlife on their own accord. It came about because people like us have lobbied hard to get the law changed. Yet more evidence of the power of polite persistence!

The photograph accompanying this update is of a little gift I was given when visiting the wonderfully strange world of the pet hedgehog keepers of North America when I was researching my book, A Prickly Affair ... I loved the idea of being recognised as a 'Hedgie Hero' - but it is clear to me that we need many more heroes in this game - and there are nearly a million here! Please keep sharing.

And a favour - I am thrilled at the response to my new book - and of course would love you to buy it (from your local book shop if you can) - but wherever you have bought it from, if you were able to contribute reviews to the behemoth that pays too little tax ... it really does make a difference to the way they promote it. This obviously helps me, but I really do believe that it also helps hedgehogs. If we can each just spread a little more hedgehog love to a few more people - we might just get to the point where I can retire!!!

(only kidding ... I can't imagine ever stopping!)