Hedgehog rescue plan unveiled

Hedgehoggy · #1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Everybody is being encouraged to help with this. From little acorns....

Hedgehog 'rescue plan' unveiled - Telegraph

toadpole · #2 (**permalink**) 13-03-2011, 06:54 PM

thats such lovely news

Marion

~T~ · #3 (**permalink**) 13-03-2011, 08:43 PM

That's great. I don't remember the last time I saw a hedgehog around here

mbaldw · #4 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 10:13 AM

Interesting link, thanks Hedgehoggy. Saw my first hog of 2011 in the garden at 01:35 Sunday morning.

Cheers,
Marc.

Jim Ford · #5 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 10:21 AM

I think the problem's deeper that the article suggests. I live on a mature (50-80 years old) estate backing onto extensive parkland with a canal, river, wetlands and extensive mature woodland. There have been no significant changes to this environment in the last 50 years at least, yet within the last 10 the hedgehogs, which were once numerous, have disappeared. And I mean disappeared - I haven't sighted one in the last 10 years, dead or alive in the area. The frogs, toads and newts seem to be going the same way now.

Jim

CharlieCreek · #6 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 01:59 PM

Lets hope lots of people join in

toadpole · #7 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 06:23 PM

Well can i please be the first to report that i have made a start !!!

after reading Hedgehoggy's post yesterday made me recall how just over a year ago now the kickboard underneath one of my fence panels broke away (rotten wood) and helped rather a lot with last years frogs finally finding their way to my pond too.....and that the other access under my gate was really a last resort

so i thought i would wait till after last years spawning to end ''then ''ask the council to come and mend it .....then i noticed a big hedgehog was using that gap to come and finish off any spare cat food and hopefully all the slugs and snails that were eating it too

...so thought i would wait until the hedgehogs hibernate before asking the council to come !!!. sadly since the bad snow we had ,the fence panel started leaning right over as the post had finally decided to disintigrate as well ...so reported it about 4 weeks ago ,but was so thankful they take so long to do a job as all the frogs (and my cats) have really enjoyed taking this short cut

then this morning the fencers turned up (no appt) and after reading Hedgehoggy's post reminded me to ask them to cut an entrance in the new kickboard to allow frogs toads and hedgehogs in my garden ...well they were not to keen as they said the council will come and check and they would get into trouble ...i said ''put it this way you will get into trouble with me if you dont ''so after plying them with2 cups of coffee each and a half pack of chocolate digestives they did as they were told and i PROMISED i would take all the blame

then went on to mention that waverley borough council would look good in all this if i had to go to the papers as they have made a serious contribution to helping wildlife and should do this when putting other fences up

...so am feeling rather pleased with myself today and very releived that wildlife can get in and out of my garden (sorry cats you cant anymore as the hole is not that big !!

)...Marion

CharlieCreek · #8 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 06:59 PM

well worth half a pack of chocolate biscuits I think toadpole! Well done.

Hedgehoggy · #9 (**permalink**) 14-03-2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toadpole

Well can i please be the first to report that i have made a start !!!

Attagirl Marion for getting the ball rolling! You have every reason to feel very pleased with yourself, well done indeed

It would be great to hear from other members following Marion’s splendid example. The gaps don’t need to be large – 5in width x 4in height would be a comfortable standard hog-size gap, although hogs can squeeze through much smaller gaps (they flatten their spines in order to squeeze through gaps).

So c’mon you lot, get out there gap-making!

toadpole · #10 (**permalink**) 15-03-2011, 06:17 PM

Thank you so much CharlieCreek and Hedgehoggy

i feel like i am back at school again and awarded a gold star .....not that i can remember that happening very much or even once

...well i have been out today and made a few adjustments ....i have had a good sort out of various logs and bark and i have sort of covered the little ''gateway'' with some large hollow pieces of oak i was given years ago and have sort of made a little tunnel leading to the gap in my trellis for the frogs and toads to go safely through and it will also lead the hedghogs to all behind my big plant pots and as i feed my slugs and snails there on lettuce and greens by the side of each pot (this really does stop them climbing up and eating your prime specimens )and he can feast till his hearts content

just to add i feed my slugs and snails because i do not use any chemicals or slug pellets at all in my garden as i cannot kill anything on purpose and my pond has a huge pile of cobbles one end and logs at the other so any wildlife is safe here...also i will add a second thing if i may, I have allways kept 3 water bowls out in my front garden for the badger and foxes and i noticed the hedgehogs (I had 3 last year) had a massive drink every nite

so i realised how they must rely on them for fresh water ... Marion