Hedgehogs!!!

We keep on seeing a lot of hedgehogs at this time of year. They are so fun and easy to make too. For me they are a good way of introducing hibernation to the children (although I have yet to convince one to sleep all winter with me!) as well as talking about hedgehogs. The hedgehog has been in decline since the 1950s and are declining at a rate of 30-40%. Did you know that only one in five people will see a hedgehog in their gardens now – seems we have been lucky to see so many!

Making a Craft Hedgehog

Whilst making hedgehogs it gives us a good chance to talk. Last year we used our hands to make the hedgehogs spikes about this year we discussed about how sharp they are and used cocktail sticks.

Hedgehogs are wild animals and will bite or scratch when stressed or ill. It is important not to make eye contact with them or talk to them. If you need to move a hedgehog it is best to do it wearing gardening gloves or by using a towel or other clothing.

This hedgehog craft is so easy that even toddlers can join in with it. First we made a brown paint – we mixed some blue and orange (5 year old’s choice) paint together. Then we painted some cocktail sticks and some hedgehog shapes, which I had cut out of plain paper.

Once these had dried we used a black felt tip pen to drawn on his facial features. This gave us the opportunity to discuss what hedgehogs like to eat beetles & larvae, caterpillars, earthworms, millipedes, eggs & carrion, and slugs and snails. The reason that we are more likely to see hedgehogs in our garden is because they are having a hard time finding food – but not in our garden. Ours is pretty wild and I struggle to keep on top of stinging nettles growing and we have several compost bins and piles – providing a good attractor for the hedgehogs’ diet of choice!

If your garden isn’t as wild as ours and you want to feed them leave minced meat, tinned (non-fish based) cat or dog food, crushed cat biscuits, chopped boiled egg or specialist hedgehog food. NEVER leave them milk as it can cause it to have diarrhea, it is better to give them plain water.

Then we carefully attached the “spines” with glue.

It didn’t matter how the spines were stuck on – either close together or far apart . And then we left him to dry.

If you find an injured or sick Hedgehog

Advice is do not try to take care of hedgehogs yourself they need specialist care.

Here is Gloucestershire you can get hedgehog help from the following:

Wild Hogs Hedgehog Rescue
www www.wildhogshedgehogrescue.org.uk/
@ wildhogshedgehogrescue@gmail.com
# 01452 740684 or 07949 976717 (mobile for emergencies)
⌂ Old Bakery Cottage, The Street, Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire, GL2 7EA

Oak & Furrows Rescue
www www.oandf.co.uk
@ info@oandf.co.uk
# 01793 751412
⌂ Blakehill Nature Reserve, Malmesbury Rd, Leigh, Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 6RH

Help a Hedgehog Hospital
www helpahedgehog.org
@ enquiries@helpahedgehog.org
# 01453 886 424 ⌂ Help a Hedgehog Hospital, Ardmore, Bourne Lane, Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, GL5 2RQ

Brockworth Hedgehog Rescue

www www.brockworthhedgehogrescue.co.uk/

@ brockworthhedgehogrescue@outlook.com

# 07789 268296

⌂ 23 Westfield Road, Brockworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3 4AR

Five Valleys Hedgehog & Bird Rescue www www.five-valleys-rescue.co.uk @ (submission form on website)
# 01453 885 558 (for emergencies)
⌂ Map available on facebook page (www.facebook.com/FiveValleysHedgehogBirdRescue)

Vale Wildlife Hospital
www www.valewildlife.org.uk
@ info@valewildlife.org.uk
# 01386 882288
⌂ Station Road, Beckford, Nr Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 7AN

Other Autumn Posts of Interest from Fellow Bloggers:

• How to use Hama beads to make some Autumn themed holders for battery operated tea lights – Jennifer from Jennifer’s Little World
• Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Soup a simple and tasty soup to warm you up – Cat from Cats Yellow Days
• Have a safe and fun Halloween with these 10 Halloween Safety Tips from pumpkin carving to trick or treating – Carolin from Mummy Alarm
• A recipe for easy baked apples with cinnamon which makes a delicious autumn or winter treat – Kirsty from the Mummysphere
• Great easy tree craft, suitable for the whole family to make – Otilia from Romanian Mum Blog
• Delicious Autumn Apple Cake – Emma from TheSoJournSeries
• Foraging for beginners – Michelle from Mummy from the Heart
• Been foraging? Then try this great yellow plum chutney recipe – Aly from Bug, Bird and Bee
• 80 Ideas for Autumn Family Fun – Cass from The Diary of a Frugal Family
• Apple Picking – Michelle from Progress not Perfection
• Autumn Crafts & Recipes for all the Family – Jenny from Mummy Mishaps