I am a proud patron of the Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity. They run a busy and professional hedgehog hospital right up against the boundary of the Shepreth Wildlife Park, just outside Cambridge.
On the August bank holiday Monday the wildlife park dedicates the day to raising money for the charity - with stalls, activities, and … me!!
There will be a lot more photos of the animals I met over on the Substack version, so do please sign up (you can also join in the discussion over there as well).
This year I had the chance to take my mother with me - and for those of you who have been keeping track of these updates, you will know how much that means to me.
Anne has always loved animals, and when we met nearly 23 years ago I was amazed to find that her nickname was badger, to my hedgehog!
I also took my ‘odd’ daughter, Naia (I am an atheist, so find it hard to have a ‘god’ daughter!) - with her mother and brother - this was because I have always wanted to share the experience with her, and also because she had got her A level results and needed a treat … A*AA … yes, she is one of those!!
The team at Shepreth are always so kind when I visit, nothing is too much effort. But this time I had something extra for them - I had been clearing out some of my hedgehoggery … and then last week went to visit my mentor and friend Pat Morris - who really started hedgehog ecological research back in the 1960s, and he handed me a great box more of hedgehog stuff … paperweights, coasters, books, badges … we have both collected so much. And it was all sitting hidden away … now it was on a stall for people to buy to raise money for hedgehogs! A much better use.
As I was unloading hedgehog trinkets I met Ellie, a new member of staff at the zoo and a young woman full of energy and generosity. She won me over in particular by having brought along a couple of copies of my books to hopefully get signed … just in case you wondered, this is a GOOD THING to do and helps repair any dented ego!
After a coffee, my first engagement was to present a short talk, and run an auction, from within the tiger cage. I have done this many times, and have yet to be eaten, but it is still a little unnerving! I was joined this year by Sue Holderness (Marlene from Only Fools and Horses and so much more) - she was spritzing the enclosure with peppermint oil, while the keeper, TK had the glamorous job of collecting tiger jobbies!
The scent was to provide stimulation for the tiger. Though the tiger was carefully locked away for this moment in time … oh, and Zoe had snuck in as well to record the proceedings … I did suggest that the reason I had such a big crowd was purely because of the sense of risk … though it is also quite the strangest way to get a captive audience … putting yourself inside the cage.
I argued that tigers are really just very boring when compared to hedgehogs (not sure I was winning that one!) but mainly I was there to encourage people to come to the proper talk a little later in the day. Then I auctioned off a couple of ‘experiences’ - with capybara and the otters … before heading on to the next event …
This was a link up with Madagascar, where I was to interview Marie Jeanne Razafiarivony, a student studying lemurs - the Zoom technology worked and she was fascinating. Her work, part funded by the SWCC, looks into the way taboo (the word they use is fady) can be used to help conservation efforts … for millennia fady has protected many of the lemur species, but traditional ways of thinking have become eroded, so has that protection.
Then on to the talk - I always love talking about hedgehogs - those of you who have seen me will know! And this was no exception - I give my all, and by the end tend to be really rather tired!
My treat for this? Apart from the knowledge I am helping the charity, is the gift of a couple of ‘experiences’ to which my mother, Naia, et al could also join.
I have always loved animals, seeing them, getting close to them. And at Shepreth I have had the good fortune to meet two of the most wonderful species a few times now - and this is what I shared … first up were the capybara … I was unconvinced when the indefatigable Liz first suggested meeting them … they are the biggest rodent in the world, sure, but basically just big guinea pigs …
But … oh … as soon as you get in their orbit you are suffused with a calm - they are like rodent Buddhas - they just know how to be capybara and are happy with that!
If you get a chance to visit Shepreth and have the capacity to book an experience, I cannot recommend it too much! Oh, and the delight on everyone’s faces - my mother, Sue - everyone …
And then on to the strangest of the creatures in the park and another of my delights - the aardvark. Today they were much less bouncy than on previous visits, but all the same to be up close with these huge anteating beasts was magnificent.
So - thank you to Shepreth, to Liz, Ellie - and in particular to the director, friend and absurd over-achiever, Rebecca … who since I last met her has topped even the work with the zoo by producing little Jack … and if I am to be honest, cuddling Jack was even better than all the other animals!!
Oh - and that day - we raised over £1000 for the charity, the money going to help keep the hedgehog hospital afloat. Thank you to all who came and contributed.