Every now and then a very special person pops into the world. Annie Ross was one of those. An artist of great skill, she also had a heart filled with love for hedgehogs - and donated her work to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to use in their efforts to spread the word.
If you would like to see more than just this one image of her work, pop over to the Substack version - where you can also comment.
For a long time I was a believer in the power of facts. I learned things, I shared that knowledge and hoped that would be enough to win the argument. But as time has moved on I now realise that facts are not enough.The head needs to be supported by the heart - we need stories, art, poetry, humour, to empower the evidence and get it working.
This is something that Annie did so well with her artwork - messages through The Future is Unmown were accurate, important, and funny! Since 2020 Annie had given her time and incredible skill to help hedgehogs, and other wildlife - her infographics are at the heart of the new look BHPS website and leaflets - her loss, in January this year, is felt keenly by all at the BHPS - but her legacy will live on for many years to come.
Hedgehog Awareness Week is drawing to a close, and I have run out of time to write more about some of the amazing things that have been going on …. Oh, well, maybe not completely. I want to share with you the WINNER of the Hedgehog Street Arts and Crafts competition … which is going to be a disappointment for those of you not using the Substack version, sorry … only allowed one picture on here!
The overall winner is …
Felicity Drew for her wonderful colour pencil hedgehog - now, what I don’t know is if this is her real name, in which case what an amazing bit of nominative determinism … or just a pen(cil) name! I ended up being coopted into helping the judging, so, if you disagree, you can shout at me!!! Though on their Facebook page someone did think I was the artist … if only I had the skills!
I know we should not read too much into celebrity endorsements, sometimes they can be bought, sometimes they are not really meaning it - BUT - when it comes to the marriage of Stephen Fry and HEDGEHOGS … what more can I say! I have an inkling of how busy the lives of people like Stephen Fry truly are - just through observation, not that my life is anything like that!! So for him to put the time into recording a message in support of Hedgehog Awareness Week is a real measure of his commitment.
Finally - talks I am doing soon in Cornwall - please spread the word. 29th May in Calstock, and 30th May in Newquay.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.