1 post tagged “hedgehogs”
A couple of days ago I published my allotment plans for 2008. Well you may have noticed that I had included some new ways to encourage wildlife to the allotment in my quest to form the a strictly organic and sustainable food source. If I am going to cut out the use of chemicals then there is surely no better way to get rid of pests than to encourage animals which eat the pests onto the allotment.
Yesterday night I travelled to Beckford near Tewkesbury to collect 2 young hedgehogs. Vale Wildlife Rescue has recieved in excess of 100 hedgehogs to its centre in the last week, this is down to the inconsistent weather we have been experiencing in this country. The last few months have been relatively mild considering that it is winter. Therefore the little hedgehogs have been fooled into a having a third litter of the year, the little babies are too young to survive winter so therefore they need "over-wintering" the centre alone can not care for the number of hedgehogs so it has appealed to anybody who could "overwinter" a pair of hedgehogs to come forward. It is on the strict understanding that the hedgehogs are returned to the wild, so in my case they will be released onto the alltoment.
Tiggy and Winkle will be living indoors until March when it should be warm enough and they should be heavier enough to survive. I will probide a hedgehog house and food for them, so hopefully they will stick near to my allotment and if not then hopefully more will be attracted to it.
The hedgehogs enjoy eating dog food.
The costs of keeping the hedgehogs are going to be quite expensive, so any donations of hay, shredded paper, dog food or newspapers are greatly appreciated. The hedgehogs and Chicks need cleaning out every day so the more stuff the better!
Here is a picture. Sorry it is not too clear.
You get the general impression.
A busy tomorrow methinks. I'm going to look at ponds and then I plan to dig my new strawberry bed and the area for the pond.
Night Night,
Martin
