I am always excited seeing other people come up with brilliant ideas to help hedgehogs! And there are few better than the amazing Jo Wilkinson who set up Hedgehog Friendly Campus.

Their latest wheeze is rather simple ... The Big Hog Friendly Litter Pick Challenge - #Pick4Prickles is the social media hashtag - and it is all about getting rid of litter!

My local park seems to be revealing a slipping in attitudes to litter - there is much more left around - though it is possible that this is more to do with getting rid of a park-keeper, so no one there to 'remind' folk not to leave rubbish lying around. I have also noticed that foxes, crows and jackdaws, have taken to raiding the bins, scattering the contents ... 

In the big scheme of threats to hedgehogs, litter may seem small beer - but it is actually very important on two levels. Hedgehogs (and other wildlife) do become trapped in litter - crisp packets, tins, plastic rings from beer cans, yoghurt pots, even face masks. But there is an even more important reason - and that is to try and instil some care and respect for the natural world. If people see rubbish strewn around the place there is a chance they will just join in the laziness. But if a very public effort is made to create a more pleasant environment ... well ... I just hope that it will encourage some to take a bit more care.

So have a look at what Jo and her team are up to - here is a video - the wonderful Megan McCubbin is joined by Dr Amir Khan (new patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society) in giving the campaign a push. Get your local school, college or university to take up the challenge - it is a competition - and there is a prize of a hedgehog house and food for the team that collect the most bags over litter before the of November!

What else is going on - well I have three events in Devon soon - here are links to two of them - South Brent on 29th September and Dartmouth on the 30th (and while the link suggests 0630, I am pretty sure it is 1830!!) - hope to see some of you there.

As seems inevitable, I have a favour to ask ... I have written a number of books (number 7 coming out soon is about water voles!) and what I have found is that reviews on Amazon make a big difference ... in fact the reviews that my Graffeg book on hedgehogs got (many from people on here I am sure) have been amazing ... but I wrote a book about beavers, and while everyone who has read it has been really positive - there is not the same level of campaigning zeal that hogs attract ... anyway - if any of you have got my beaver book, could you give a rating (if you liked it!!!) on the evil empire's website, thanks. 

Hope you have a lovely week - I'll be back soon!