But before we have Christmas fun - we have some business.
Thank you to all the people who have shared with me the responses you have got from your Members of Parliament - in response to writing to them as part of the lobby to get extra protection for our hedgehogs. It is a shame that it seems like all the MPs are just sending back a template letter (in response to ours - the irony is not lost on me). However, they are our representatives and they need to work for their money. So I ask you - those of you in the UK that is - to keep up the pressure. Please write to your MP if you have not - and if you have had a response, please reply in turn. We need a commitment from our MPs to work for us - to put pressure on those re-writing wildlife protection legislation to treat the hedgehog with the care it is due.
The hedgehog is a special case - and while I know that all species specialists will claim some exceptionalism - the hedgehog really does have some extra leverage ... it is an indicator species, in its decline it is warning us of far greater threats to far less charismatic species and to the wider ecosystem. It is a creature that has the capacity to draw us, our children and our grandchildren closer to nature. Please, if you have the time and energy, write personally to your MPs - tell them why these animals are so important to you. Maybe those stories will stir a reaction - because extra protection would be such an amazing opportunity.
And now for less serious matters - I was bumped to the encore - so this Saturday, sometime between 7pm and 10pm, I will be among the great stars of stage and screen - talking about .... hedgehogs - log into Robin Ince's tireless variety show for free! when it goes live on Saturday night. He is raising money for good causes - over £20,000 raised so far - for MSF and MIND and others ... and also he is gently hoping for support himself. At least only a part of my world vanished with Covid - but almost all of his did ... so anything dropped into the Cosmic Shambles Patreon account will be appreciated.
If you are quiz minded - I have been asked to contribute a few questions to the Big Fat Nature Quiz - only 100 tickets available - but should be fun!
The t-shirt offer - thank you to the 500 people who ordered my latest book from Graffeg - I was thrilled at the flurry ... unintended consequence, The Hedgehog Book is now hard to find - the publishers have a few copies and they have ANOTHER reprint on its way, but thanks to Brexit, it will not be here before Christmas. Please try and track it down - and if you still want bookplates, I have some left - an SAE to Hugh Warwick, 176 Campbell Road, Oxford, OX4 3NR - and I will get into the post ASAP in return.
If you want a very cool t-shirt and help raise money for wildlife - check out these ... just in time for Christmas!
And finally - Happy Christmas - thank you for your continued support. It means so much - the comments beneath these updates, I try and read and answer, but most of the chat is now on the Hedgehog Highways Facebook group - where the wonderful Jacqueline and Rose moderate and help keep things calm! If you want to track me down on twitter and instagram - @hedgehoghugh will lead the way!
We have had quite a year - even the strongest of us have been left bruised. And the balm of hugs from friends and family is out of reach. I hope, like me, many of you have been able to take some comfort from the natural world. Even now, while the sky is grey and my toes are cold (I work from the shed!) I can hear a robin. I know that there are hedgehogs out there, hibernating - and we can do the same - hunker down and wait for Spring. And hopefully the warmth of the sun will be accompanied by the warmth of returning closeness. Let us never forget, however, the debt we owe the nature cure - we can hold that close too. Happy Christmas to you all.