Is anyone wondering if i still have hedgehogs ?

yes I do, they visit me every night because I feed them, there is also a wealth of natural food on my greenhouse gravelled floor, the root out the beetles, grubs and slugs which helps keep my plant healthy

a recent video of a typical night

Yes, I was thinking about your hedgehogs the other day. They are so sweet, except that they're covered in fleas, so I'd never pick one up.

It's surprising how they know where to go for a feed, then tootle off somewhere until feeding time again. I wonder where they go and what they do with their time. Animals are such fascinating creatures and their personalities are as unique as humans - no two exactly the same. I can almost imagine them on their adventures out when tummies start to rumble, then mum says "come on kids, we're off to Papa Tom's for a feed."

Like all animals Mollie, they have an incredible sense of smell plus like a bird, they have a 'sat nav' directional instinct and stay local to their roots, Even though my area is now a housing area, their ancestors grew up in a rural farmland that was mostly hedges and that is why, I'm lucky enough to have them come to my garden, Its also the reason they are dying out, I'm doing my best to educate the public and keep them coming every year,,,

Absolutely. Mankind has done far too much damage to wildlife and, as you know, many creatures have become extinct because of it. You're doing them a service.

Tom

I have been thinking about your hedgehogs, and so why don't yoo ask the council if they would put a hedgehog crossing outside of your house, and then your hedgehogs could cross the road safely LINK

good post Tommy Tee, I'll Write a letter today,,,,

Isn’t it nice to know that there are people out there who care enough about animals to do everything they can to help them survive, and I include Tom in that statement. I think crossings such as that should be implemented everywhere, and more awareness about the survival of animals should be taught in school.

Thank you Mollie, I am a member of that hedgehog Street site but, they keep midering me for donations and. that puts me off, I don't mind donating my time and effort to support but, I wonder where the money goes, I need to see its spent on the animals and not filling the company directors private jet up ,

I do agree with you Tom about people asking for donations. It's probably all in a good cause, but I would also be wary as to where the money goes as it's meant to be non-profit making.

As you're a member of that site, next time they ask for money, you ask them to give you a breakdown of how the money is dispensed. If they're genuine, they'll accommodate you in your request.

By the way, Tom, all things must be given a chance to survive and continue to breed, especially endangered species like bats, frogs, toads and newts, mainly because these are the key ingredients for me to make my potions in me cauldron.

Just kidding, or am I?

Oops. I wonder how that happened.

So I've started the ball rolling by E mailing our local councillor who lives just further down the road and hopefully the hedgehogs visit him as well , I'm asking for official road signs like the ones in Tommy's link, I think a crossing is a waste of money but, ' Beware of hedge hog' signs might make a difference,

tomplum

Hope you have better luck with your Councillor than what my neighbours and I have with our Ward Councillors to do something about the budding Lewis Hamilton's doing 40/50 mph on our street.

We are lucky that there are not many hedgehogs around our street as the Council would have a full time job cleaning up the mess!

Owd Codger, We have made many many pleas about the situation here, the yoof in the beemers and howdies come along our 20 MPH lane like bullets and a camera would make its money in 30 mins at night time when its supposed to be quiet, For some reason. nothing is seen to be done, I think that Divine intervention is guarding the hedgehogs because, I have buried few road kills, We still have a few left,

last year road kill

I've just had a reply from Counsellor David Hurst, he has put a request in for signs and will let me know the response.

I hope you get your hedgehog signs Tom

Thank you tommy tee, we can only hope, I have stressed that, they are an endangered animal and just to make the motorist aware of this, might make a difference,

Let us know if you get any joy, Tom.

I've just looked up conservation sites and there's one called Lancashire Wildlife Trust and there's a Wigan Office not far from you:

Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Worsley Mesnes Drive
Worsley Mesnes
WN3 5UF
Tel: 01942 246425 - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon - Fri

Sorry if you already know about this, but their site is very good.

I do know of their work mollie, they do the paths round the wigan Flashes manicuring the nettles and brambles and clearing the litter, They do good work and mostly volunteers ,

They also have a lot of helpful advice for the care of hedgehogs, bats etc. I wondered if they could have any way of coaxing the Council into agreeing to your road crossing.

reply from the Clowncil

Well of course they can't put signs up at every location. That would be cost prohibitive, but there should at least be warnings of animals crossing at strategic points on a busy road.

Make your own, Tom, and wrap it round some lampposts. Mind you, if you did that, they'd probably rip them down again, but as long as they didn't impair or obstruct the vision of drivers, it shouldn't be a problem. Or, how about a flag big enough to fly saying BEWARE OF ANIMALS CROSSING? Then again, they'd say that the flag took drivers' eyes off the road, so perhaps you're on a loser with that as well. Can't win.

I do have my own Mollie, she's on guard 24/7 but its in my front garden and even though I get many comments about it, It doesn't warn on comeing that do not know the area

Yes, I know, and as long as it's on private property they can't do anything.

People just don't care enough.

Well at least I've not seen any road kill this year ( touch wood), I hate seeing a dead un in the road and feel compelled to scrape it off the road and bury it So thats a good sign, perhaps the warden does make a difference

Tom I know you are on your travels but if any time you are passing call in as I have a small present for youIt will fit into a pocket

Is it a Hedgehog Cake, Peter?

Tonker some of those cakes have borrowed some ones false gnashers

They'll be his!

sorry Peter I've been away for a few days and only just seen of your kind offer, I'll be round soon

Tom when ever your passing by

just passed by Peters place and,,

he gave me this lovely thing

love it Peter thanks

That's really lovely, and very kind of Peter.

Tom, why don't you start a collection of figures of wild animals. We once had a collection of, if you can believe it, piggies. We had big ones, little ones, and there must have been about 10, but I've no idea what happened to them, unless my husband took them with him when we split up.

I have a few little figures, some were given to me, and others I found in charity shops, and I love them.

I have a collection of the, Nat West ceramic piggy banks, They were a gift to encourage saving for our kids and as your savings grew, they sent a new pig, each was different with another name, We have the full collection which was about 6 or 8 We still have them but,,,Where they are, is at least a days hunt in the arcaves of the attic

I remember those being advertised, but never got one. I wasn't with NatWest though.

Yvonne used to collect teddy bears and at one time they where all over the house.We had an opening where the fireplace was and I purchased a large wicker dog basket and put that in the opening then that got filled with teddies.When we moved 40-50teddies at least went to the charity shops every size from inches to about 2ft and the dog basket. We kept a small "Steiff" bear in its own suitcase and have about 30 ceramic/plaster bears in the kitchen on a welsh dresser or around the fire place

Peter, don't give that Steiff away. If it's genuine and in good condition, they're worth a fortune these days.

Mollie last time I saw one for sale about £50

Peter, somebody may have sold one for £50, but they can range anywhere from £200 to £400 to a collector. Look on the Steiff Valuation site. There are various kinds.

£29.99 0n Amazon

Maybe so, brand new, but it depends on its age. The edition number and year of issue is on the back of the tag.

anyroad up, I'm doing a bit of gardening on the front lawn and, this L'il fellow is sunbathing on my grass



I put him in a cardboard box with food in and placed him in the greenhouse out of harms way, 10 mins later he escaped and last seen heading towards Better accommodation, I'm guessing,,, bless him, or her

Perhaps he just went for a stroll and will come back if he sniffs out more grub. Is he one of the originals from your others?

I dunno Mollie, I wanted to box him up to protect him but, I know that's wrong so, I had to let him stroll off, He's tiny and its coming time to hibernate so, I hope he finds somewhere near me to rest so I can ' mother' him/her,