Two people have told me of the hedgehogs they have seen in my estate in east Oxford - one, an old friend, has had them breeding in her garden in previous years. This is very lovely news - so how about you? Have your hogs emerged?

At the moment I am working most evenings, trying to finish latest book before end of month, and this means I am walking down my garden in the dark. I know the way and even on a moonless night don’t need a torch, but I always use one, just in case. As yet - no hogs in my garden for 10 years … and there is PLENTY of access. My fence is built specifically to allow access, and on the other side, well, it is what one might call ‘organic.’ In addition the park we back on to has big enough gaps in the railings. 

But though the park looks perfect for hedgehogs, there is a problem. It is smothered in dogs from dawn to dusk - including mine. And any self-respecting hog will have long ago learned that this is not a great place to spend the day snoozing. It is always important to take that little step back and see the slightly bigger picture. Why are hedgehogs not using your garden? It may not be the immediate design of fences - it could be something a few houses along that is causing the obstacle.

Just been checking the figures for this petition - the constant stream of updates (hope they are not ending up in too many people’s spam folders) seems to be having an impact because the total number of times people have viewed this petition is now a startling 8,688,643!!

Now - how to get children more into wildlife, and hedgehogs in particular? Here is a way to really help. I was there are the birth of Hedgehog Friendly Campus - an innovative idea from Jo Wilkinson. The plan was to get students engaged on their campuses in helping hedgehogs, simple as that. And she ‘gamified’ it - with universities having he chances of winning awards - bronze, silver and gold - based on how well they did.

It has gone down a storm!

Now they want to take this to schools - the same sort of idea - and to do that they need to raise money … and have linked up with ‘BigGive’ who will, for the week the fundraiser runs, match the funding that the project receives … this is free money for a good cause. So - starting on 20th April you can donate and see that money double!

Talking of money increasing - THANK YOU so much for the generosity that has led little Amelie to now be raising £1745 at the time or writing with her sponsored 100 mile walk for Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Hospital!

Also on the 20th April - my latest book plops into the clear waters of your nearest brook - Water Voles are on their way. I know it is not hedgehog related - but some of you might be interested in learning about this adorable little beastie! The cheapest place I have seen it on sale is from the wonderful folk at Wild Sounds (in case you can’t find it in your local bookshop - please support them if you can).

And if you have anything left over from all of those pulls on your wallet … 

Street art in picture by the amazing ATM - this hog is at Secret World.