I have written over 200 updates to my petition on change.org to help hedgehogs. That is over 100,000 words!!! A decent length book generated for free (though recently I have been receiving some support from donations via Buy Me a Coffee) - please remember that none of the donations people have made in via the petition come to me or directly to hedgehogs, they go to the hosting company.

There has been an amazing amount of support and interest - with 1,191,344 signatures as I write this - and a great deal of generosity.

But - the platform has changed the way it works and removed the capacity to comment. You had made 24,507 comments up until this point … and this means that I am now unable to respond to questions that people might have about hedgehogs or the campaign. It also removes the sense of what is interesting people as there is no measure through comments or ‘likes’. 

People have joined the Hedgehog Highways Facebook Group that I set up - which allows discussion, and is a friendly place to ask questions of the 22,000 members 

But many people do not like Facebook!

I have thought about this long and hard - should I keep the petition updates running? Should I move elsewhere? Well - I will keep the petition running - it is too good an opportunity to reach this many people. And I believe that, come the next government, there is good reason to redouble our efforts!

However, I have decided to share updates from here on a new site.

I will not be placing any of my updates behind a paywall (this is an option on Substack) - but there is the opportunity to sign up and donate - but please, only if you can spare the money. I have no ‘job’ and live by freelancing as a photographer, public speaker and writer, so I know what it is like to feel conflicted about wanting to pay for content, but really not being able to risk it … and for those who think that having written eight books must mean I am wallowing in cash … last year I made a profit of £13,745 … 

So - PLEASE - consider signing up to my substack - I would really value being able to return to a way of writing that felt more inclusive. 

And remember - I will continue putting the updates on here as well ... 

Photo of daylight hedgehog that had been rescued from a canalised ditch (quite a few years ago judging by the colour of my beard!) If you see a hedgehog out in the day it may well be poorly - so please do take action. 

ps - please ... if any of you have read my latest book, Cull of the Wild, could you please leave a review on the website of the evil empire .... the first review was a little snide I felt and it would do me the world of good to see some positive ones!!