Ron is a baby hedgehog that is being looked after by our local hedgehog hospital ‘Hettie’s Helpers’. He was well enough to make a guest appearance at our Nature Citizens meeting with his wonderful carer Mary. She explained all about hedgehogs and gave us these important facts:
- Leave an untidy area in your garden – a pile of leaves will keep them warm.
- A log pile will make a good home.
- Put stones or a plank in ponds to help hedgehogs climb out.
- Check before you mow or strim your grass.
- Check your bonfire for hibernating hedgehogs.
- Don’t use slug pellets because hedgehogs eat slugs and will be poisoned.
- Leave gaps under fences as hedgehogs travel along gardens to find food.
- They love cat or dog food and drink water NOT milk or fish.
- Hibernation happens during November to April – don’t disturb!
We were mesmerised by our guest hedgehog. A flyer containing the information above was created and sent home to all the parents. As a thank you we are organising a biscuit sale next week to raise funds for the hospital.
Now that the everyone understands the facts, we will continue to create hibernating spaces in our outdoor area.