Hope - moments of hope can be like a shower of rain in summer - so nourishing.

On Sunday I got a chance to see the wonderful Vicki Hird talk about her book, Rebugging the Planet, at Hogacre Common, organised by Low Carbon West Oxford. 

Her enthusiasm for invertebrates was reflected in the children who had come - and using the butterfly nets and pooters (see the picture, a device for gently collecting insects for identification and then release) they spent ages scouring the orchard and the meadow and collecting amazing specimens. The excitement of the children, and their parents, was obvious - and that is where my hope springs from - the reminder that there are loads of people who really care about nature.

And I don't need to remind you, but without the bugs, there will be no hedgehogs. The main diet (apart from kitten kibble!) consists of macro invertebrates, the bigger bugs and beasties. 

Another moment of hope came on Tuesday night, when I was interviewing Tom Moorhouse about his new book - Ghosts in the Hedgerow in Blackwells, Oxford. It was funny to learn that when his book arrived, it was put among the crime/thriller section - as it is subtitled 'A hedgehog whodunnit!'

I had a fun time chatting with Tom, there was a good audience who asked sensible questions. But the moment of delight started when a little girl asked two very good questions - about the importance of water for hedgehogs in the garden (very!) and the number of species in the world (depends on which taxonomist you talk to!). 

After we had finished I chatted to her, and her mum. Eloise is 8 and persuaded her mum to drive her over from Cambridge so she could meet Tom - having read his book. And now she was buying three of mine, including A Prickly Affair ... not wanting to be patronising, I gently asked her mother about whether this book would be suitable ... it was reviewed by Jeanette Winterson, New Scientist, The Economist etc ... but was assured that Eloise had already devoured Durrell's work!

In fact, I have had some of my best reviews from interested 10 and 11 year olds.

Anyway - Eloise was literally jumping on the spot in excitement as we talked - especially when I told her that I would see about making her my special guest when I next did a hedgehog event at Shepreth Wildlife Park (near Cambridge, there is a hog hospital associated with the park, and I am a patron).

So - HOPE - seeing young people getting so thrilled by nature really gives me hope. Please keep enthusing about your love of nature - and share it with as many people as possible!

I was at a hedgehog meeting yesterday - not a meeting with hedgehogs, just a meeting about our plans for the next 6 months ... there is something exciting I will be able to tell you in a few weeks ... in fact there is so much good stuff in the pipeline!

If you have any spare coins for my hat ... always appreciated.