Dear All,

Just a quick one, probably - though when I start writing there is always a risk that I will run away with an idea and it will suddenly become one of those long ones ...

First, and probably most important - the Queen's Platinum Jubilee ... had a hedgehog on the prime spot, just after Paddington made his appearance ... though I do worry for him, if Paddington is not seen again it will be because he has been carted off to Rwanda ... or possibly this was a subtle dig at some of the less pleasant manifestations of government policy - showing how 'illegal' immigrants can be an absolutely vital contribution to society. 

Anyway - back to the hedgehog. I have watched Brian May's performance so carefully ... just hoping to spot a hedgehog on his magnificent wildlife coat. And today's picture has, I hope, what I think is a hedgehog, down near the bottom at the rear. Says a lot for his priorities though ... I mean surely the hedgehog should have been front and centre!! If any of you have got a better image of the back of his coat, please do share!

On Wednesday - 8th June - I will be giving a talk as part of the ATOM festival of science in Abingdon, Oxfordshire - if you are around, please grab a ticket and come and say hi - I love it when I meet the faces who have made this petition possible ... 

But the strange thing that has happened ... there has been a SURGE of signatures to the petition and I do not know why ... obviously I am thrilled, but usually I can find a reason, like an appearance with Chris Packham or a tweet from Brian May ... this time it remains a mystery. And my excitement, other than the BIGGER PLAN I hope to unveil soon, is that we are rapidly approaching 1,111,111 signatures. I love numbers, this one makes me happy! So - please continue to share away and lets get to this neat number soon!

Finally, for now, thank you to the 86 people who have supported me through this fundraising site. I only ask for support to enable me to spend more time campaigning and less time looking for 'paying gigs' - life as a hedgehogger is not one for those motivated by great wealth, I can assure you!