As the eyes and ears and minds of the world turn towards Glasgow and the fortnight of discussions about what we should have been doing decades ago - it is easy to forget the local and the immediate.
High winds have brought down many leaves - and some people might have the urge to tidy up their gardens. I urge you all to try hard to avoid the 'cult of tidiness' - the need to be master of all corners of your patch. Yes, drag the leaves off the lawn if you want, but don't dispose of them - they are the essence of the cycle of life in your garden. The sunlight that tumbled down during the spring and summer has been converted into carbohydrates - the nutrients that were pulled up from the soil have also been woven into the web leaves.
Can you capture those nutrients? Leave them in the borders to rot - to turn to soil, to feed the invertebrates and microbes that will eventually feed our hedgehogs? Maybe a compost heap? Can you leave access to the decomposition? I have seen so many compost heaps that are sealed from life, keeping out some of the animals that would benefit so much from the food and shelter.
There is the temptation for some to create the most amazing hedgehog hibernaculum - the nest they use for hibernation. The way to do this is to gather a great pile of dried leaves, surround that by twigs, then some slightly bigger sticks, in a sort of teepee structure - gradually increase the size of the sticks until you have a secure home for hedgehogs. And obviously, you have also built a bonfire.
The hedgehog does not know you intend to set light to this comforting structure - all they see is that the work they would have had to do themselves has been done by someone else. There is a bit of a link here to Glasgow and COP26 - for generations we have been ignorant of the impact our easy comfort could have. For decades some of us have been shouting that the engine that has created this easy life is going to be the death of us. Now we need to accept a dramatic change. We need to find a new way of keeping ourselves warm and safe.
And the hedgehog - the hedgehog has no fight or flight response - when you light your bonfire and the first tendrils of smoke reach its sensitive nose, or the crackle of flame reaches their ears, they won't run, they will frown, and then roll into a ball. A bit like how many people are reacting to the climate crisis!
How can we stop this happening - the hedgehog being killed that is? The British Hedgehog Preservation Society mounts a concerted campaign each year at this time calling on care to be taken with bonfires - this year with the help of Ben Fogle. For most of us - simple ensure you only build them on the day you intend to burn them. If you must collect lots of material beforehand, move it before burning. If you have left it for a day or so, and are unable to move it, leaver up the pile and check for hiding hedgehogs. If you have a friend with a thermal imagine camera - use that! For large community events, ask that a fence is put in place around the growing pile of wood.
Please spread the word about this - lets reduce hedgehog casualties this autumn.
In brief - if you are interested in a different persecutive of COP26 - my wife is up there filming, focusing on the voices of people who are not normally heard. Amazingly, no-one had grabbed COP26.tv as a website ... until she and her team did!
I am launching a competition - with a lovely prize for the winner - over on the Hedgehog Highways Facebook Group - announcement coming soon.
To the annoyance of a few - an advert - as I often repeat, I have no 'job' - I am freelance. I write books. There are many places from which you can buy them - I would encourage you to use your local bookshop if you are lucky enough to have one. But if not, you don't need to rely on the tax-dodgers ... my favourite bookshop is Blackwells in my hometown of Oxford, some of my books are on offer, they have free UK delivery - and are wonderful people.
And finally - a massive thank you to @itsnotaboutwork for permission to use their artwork - track them down and give them a follow! While we struggle with the greenhouse effect, let's at least stop the hedgehogs suffering from the 'bonfire effect'!
p.s. Just a word about the fireworks that are often accompany the bonfires - July last year we took an old rescue dog in from Romania - Ogli is a gorgeous member of our family now (even though he clearly prefers EVERYONE else to me!). He has had a rough life and is going to live our his days in luxury. But - he is terrified of fireworks. Hiding in the larder or bathroom - crying, whimpering - unable to settle, always on edge ... I just think if the people who set them off over this two week or so period saw the fear in his eyes, maybe they would think twice. And if it does that to Ogli, what is it doing to the hedgehogs, and all the other wonderful creatures we share this place with?