Hedgehogs are one of the most popular inhabitants of the British countryside (this book describes them as the most universally loved animals, but the author obviously hasn't visited any bunny blogs!).
This book is a wonderful mix of natural history, animal welfare and total eccentricity. It includes an investigation into the reasons why hedgehogs are declining in the wild, whether hedgehogs have caused population declines in seabirds in Scottish islands, an expedition to China to find the very rare Hugh's hedgehog and a brief trip to the Hedgehog Olympic Games.
We meet people who have given up almost everything to set up hedgehog hospitals; find out whether hedgehogs really can harvest fruit by rolling around and find out how best to look after the hedgehogs that visit our gardens.
I imagine most people will be totally charmed by this book and will then want to observe these wonderful animals in the wild. Well in the UK, that's sadly becoming a rare event these days for most of us. If this book makes you want to help your local hedgehogs, then you can visit Hedgehog Street to find out more.
A Prickly Affair by Hugh Warwick published by Penguin
Aww...I didn't know that hedgehogs were declining. Poor guys!
ReplyDeleteMust get my bro Mick to pick this one up from the library. Found a hedgehog in distress a couple of years ago, when we looked into it we were astonished to find a guy 5 mins down the road who took them in. Just a guy in a semi detached;-). He made them comfortable for 24 hours then took them to a rehab sanctuary. We felt great that this particular hedge made it. Not seen one for years in my garden area. Really sad this should be happening
ReplyDeleteBig pet hedgehog show here every year. Quite a blast to go and sit in on the talks and watch the owners. Those people are nuts! (Oh ...)
ReplyDeleteHi Juliet,
ReplyDeleteI love hedgehogs and we used to always have one that would visit in the evening and eat the cat food in a bowl, on the porch.
Sad that they are declining as they do such good things for the garden eating aphids and nasty bugs.
Happy week
Hugs
Carolyn