Hedgehog Rescue

Henrietta is a hedgehog- my hedgehog!

We usually have hedgehogs wandering through our garden in summer months- in the winter they used to hibernate in our compost heap - till Jim next door pulled a dastardly and subversive trick- and put a hodgepod right next to our fence to provide for spikey wildlife in winter and wean my hedgehog from my slugs to his; actually I didn't mind as Jim and I talked plants, wildlife, birds etc over the garden fence (as you do)  and he sometimes brought me excess produce like courgettes, sweet peas and rhubarb.

Yesterday D2 stepped out of the back door (into that rare commodity - sunshine) to see a hedgehog statue gazing at the hodgepod- but the statue moved and J realised it was for real. We watched Henrietta pull up worms from the sodden earth for about an hour. Today she was curled up on the lawn which set alarm bells ringing- was she poorly? Phonecalls to national, then local, hedgehog experts established that nocturnal Mrs H was displaying unusual, diurnal behaviour so she was put in a newspaper lined refuge (our plastic container for glass from our recycling bin!) with a warm, wrapped hot water bottle, cat food and transported for an expert check up in Longframlington. Dilemna- she is a healthy weight for a sow and may have or be having babies-maybe for the first time- who knows? It may account for her behaviour. So we have upended a recycling box with a 5" door hole cut in, Whiskas and water inside and brick on top; now to hope Henrietta and friends are enticed in.....please note neighbourhood cats-you are not allowed.

More news as it comes in.....

PS If I get a mo I will give you details of our holiday