After all this time I have eventually been flattened by Covid. A week in and I am still testing positive - but at least feeling less ghastly than earlier. This is so disappointing. I have so much to do! And have already missed out on important events … not least of which is the funeral of my cousin (an indirect covid victim). So just in case you needed reminding - it is still out there … and if you have friends and family who are vulnerable - reach out to them and understand how they may well be retreating from busy public spaces.

To keep my family as safe as I can I retreated to the shed (it is well insulated) and have been only coming into the house in a mask. Nights have required me to wear a lot of clothing!!! And be in a sleeping bag under a duvet! My boy has now been stricken - just hope that my wife, Zoe, can avoid this … really, I can’t remember when I last felt that poorly. 

One of the events I have missed is the Oxford Green Fair - for years it has been a feature in my calendar - I get to talk to hundreds of people about hedgehogs - a stall full of leaflets - and books to sell (to help pay for the stall!) … and with that in mind … I have about 40 bookplates left so if any of you would like signed books for Christmas presents, let me know - drop me an email: hugh.warwick@gmail.com - if you can use an SAE that will help. Buy the books from your local shop - or WildSounds (here are links to Hedgehogs, Water Voles, Beavers and Linescapes) - or evil tax dodgers (only because not at WildSounds - A Prickly Affair and The Beauty in the Beast) — and let me know!! 

There is some good news out there - the East Cambridgeshire District Council, based in Ely, asked members of the public to vote for what species they wanted to grant extra protection. And it was the hedgehog (of course) … now, I have to say it is a bit of nonsense setting people to choose between bats and toads, barn owls and bees - and OBVIOUSLY - every council should be putting equal effort into helping all of them.

But at least work for hedgehogs will actually benefit many other species too … and the report on the BBC website said that the council were expecting developers to cooperate. Now - I hope that this cooperation is enforced with some pretty strong teeth … if any of you are from that neck of the woods, could you let us know how things are going?

If you have not joined up with the Hedgehog Highways Facebook Group - now is a good time - as we can discuss Ely’s progress all the more easily on there … drop in and join the fun (which is maintained with the utterly amazing Jacqueline and Rose - exemplary moderators!)

Finally - Poetry Please on BBC Radio 4 - with the wonderful Roger McGough - spun us a treat this week … as  he invited in the great man, Benjamin Zephaniah to share a collection of his favourite poems … and to read what has to be one of the greatest hedgehog poems of all time!!! 

Luv Song

“I am in luv wid a hedgehog
I've never felt this way before
I have luv fe dis hedgehog
An everyday I luv her more an more,
She lives by de shed 
Where weeds and roses bed
An I just want de world to know
She makes me glow.
I am in luv wid a hedgehog
She's making me hair stand on edge,
So in luv wid dis hedgehog
An her friends
Who all live in de hedge
She visits me late
An eats off Danny's plate
But Danny's a cool tabby cat
He leaves it at dat.
I am in luv wid a hedgehog,
She's gone away so I must wait
But I do miss my hedgehog
Everytime she goes to hibernate.”

I don’t know who made the image I have used on this update - though it was inevitable it would end up on my computer at some point!!

If any of you would like to support the work I do on here - you can drop coins in my metaphorical hat. Thank you.

And next update - I will be back to full steam - I hope!