Okay - this one might seem like a stretch, but stick with me - it does make sense!

Trying to help hedgehogs with us all making changes to our gardens and our fences is great. But there are larger areas that really could benefit hedgehogs too - it is just that they are not within our individual grasp. 

One of those areas are the grounds managed by football teams! Now, I know, we are not likely to have a hedgehog scuttling around the centre spot of Anfield or Maine Road - but they may be at the training grounds. And while most attention is given to the premiere league, there are an estimated 40,000 football clubs in the UK. So reaching out to the clubs - and getting the message passed on to their members and supporters - is a great way to raise awareness.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society have just launched the Hedgehog Friendly Football League. 

The HFFL is designed to spread the word about hedgehog-safe groundskeeping, getting clubs to place ‘check for hedgehogs before using’ warning stickers on all their grounds maintenance machines.

So far over 40 clubs have joined – including treble-winners Manchester City – with many clubs doing their bit for wildlife, scoring points as they feature the campaign in matchday programmes and spread the word amongst fans.

The League is open to all professional clubs, meaning Arbroath could be better placed than Arsenal, or Morecambe could topple Manchester United!

This year, we’re also launching a new Hedgehog Cup competition for all HFFL clubs, meaning they will need to up their game to claim the Cup title!

Fay Vass, CEO of the BHPS said, 

“If your club isn’t in the league, we’re encouraging fans to ask them to take part! We’ve been delighted with the response so far, but we’re opening the turnstiles to more clubs across the UK – and we’d love to see more Women’s and Academy teams get involved in scoring points. Hedgehogs are in sharp decline and it’s more important than ever that we stand together to educate the public to help protect their welfare and habitats – and supporting the Hedgehog Friendly Football League is a brilliant way to do just that.”

Any clubs wishing to join the League should email info@britishhedgehogs.org.uk to receive their free ‘check’ stickers and details of how to earn points.

I do not know much about football, other than what appears on Match of the Day - but I do know that there is a league I am now passionately interested in ... if you would like to see how the teams are doing, here is the current state of play.

The top three teams at the moment are - Morecambe, Bristol City, and Brighton & Hove Albion. Arsenal are at number 9, Manchester City at 33, and I note that my home town of Oxford are languishing at 35 ... I might have to start poking people into action!

In other news - last week I got invited in to my local primary school to talk about hedgehogs to the year 2 classes. They had been doing hogs as a topic thanks to their inspirational teacher, a real like Miss Honey. I was asked if I could spare 10 minutes for each class ... I suggested we bundle them together and see how it goes ... an hour later they had to go on to do something else!!!

I love how much attention 50 seven year olds can and will give to something - of course there were a few who found the sitting still in the garden that long a challenge - but the vast majority were focused. I had my taxidermy hedgehog, and a porcupine quill as props - and loved it. They already knew a lot - testament to the teacher! And enjoyed sharing their knowledge. But perhaps best, was the questions - learning facts is great, but understanding what you don't know and then asking is even better! 

So - I did an hour of high energy hedgehog stuff ... kids happy, teachers happy ... and I went home with a smile ... and lay in the hammock and fell asleep.

I know that if I was to be trained as a teacher I would learn how to hold attention without putting everything I have into the lesson ... but that is the only tool I have - enthusiasm!!! Made me appreciate our teachers - especially the primary school teachers - all the more.

Now - I have to write about bats!! Wish me luck.

Further stuff from me can be found on twitter, instagram - and if you have any spare coins ... you know where they can be usefully dropped!! Thank you for all the support, it means a great deal.