My poor rescue dog, Ogli - this is the worst sort of weather for him. Thick black coat and a complete terror of thunder.

Obviously it is not just our pets who suffer - right now, despite occasional downpours, the ground is hard and the invertebrates on which our beloved hedgehogs rely are all hidden deep. 

I am often asked when it is most important to put food out in our gardens (if we are lucky enough to have them) for hedgehogs (if we are lucky enough to have them!) It is an interesting question. You could argue that it is when they emerge from hibernation that they are most vulnerable, having just used up so much of their fat reserves over winter. 

Or as autumn draws to a close we have those youngsters who have not put on enough weight to give them the best chance of making it through to the spring. These hogs will benefit from a bit of extra love and care with bonus bundles of grub popped into feeding stations.

But now, early summer, this should be the time of plenty - bugs are (supposed to be) massing, just waiting to be gobbled up … only, as many people are noticing, the bugs are not massing. The dry patch has not helped, but the reality there has been a many decades long assault on nature, and the invertebrates are disappearing.

Repeated surveys have revealed that the bugs are vanishing, for example this, from last year.

Now - I know that hogs are not leaping up to catch flying insects, but those animals lay eggs on the ground, or on plants, and these then hatch into larvae - which become hedgehog food.

So - we do need to help our wildlife - and our hedgehogs can really benefit from some dried kitten kibble and water - please don’t forget in the dry times - put out water in a hedgehog accessible dish!

Though it would be even better if we did not need to do these things ... if our gardens and parks were filled with bugs and had wildlife ponds in place ... 

Okay - some more positive things - events that are coming up.

If you want to know more about bugs (and who doesn’t!) the amazing Vicki Hird is talking about there necessary new book, Rebugging the Planet - in Oxford at Hogacre Common.

If you would like to enjoy the best company of the most brilliant writers, artists and poets with a deep love of nature, please consider coming along to New Networks for Nature, taking place in Norwich in November.

And finally - I am getting a chance to grill Tom Moorhouse - who has written the seriously entertaining book, Ghosts int he Hedgerow - at Blackwells in Oxford. 

Finally finally - Helen Ahpornsiri - what an artist! I spotted one of her pictures (this one) on twitter and tracked her down to ask permission to use it here (she said yes!) - and then I looked at her other work - please - give yourself a moment of delight with a dive into her website - her delicate work with leaves, flowers and seaweed is extraordinary.

Really finally this time … I am still trying to earn a living here … throwing change into the hat is good - or pop over to the amazing folk at WildSounds and see what they have of mine! Some very good prices …