When we moved here permanently fifteen years ago this July (is it that long ago?!) friends used to say with a degree of disbelief edged with irritation: “Oh don’t be silly! what’ll you do there?”
I can’t remember answering: “we are going to rear hedgehogs!“–although I might have felt like saying that.
Now it appears that–is exactly what we are doing.
We have a family of them living in the woodpile–at least that’s the direction from which they come.
As dusk falls–about 9.45pm at present–we can be sitting round the table at the back–often with company–when we sense a presence and turning slowly behold a small creature making its way forward, apparently unaware that he or she is not alone.
Suddenly we come into ear or eyeshot and it stops, frozen, sometimes for more than a minute, before deciding that LATER would be wiser–and scuttling off, keeping close to the wall.
This excursion isn’t an idle evening stroll–it’s feeding time for hungry hedgehogs–in the know.
There are always an assortment of half empty cat bowls with leftovers, waiting to be polished off.
Some evenings when a bowl is partially hidden we will hear a faint munching sound.
“Harrumph, harrumph, harrumph“–feeding time in full swing.
The cats–well fed by this time–look on with puzzled interest.
“What is it? This spiky ball with its snout in our trough?
Leave well alone–don’t go there–live and let live?”
Last year in a BBC poll to find an animal to play the part of National Animal Treasure, the hedgehog was a runaway (scuttle away, more like) winner.
The British love reluctant heroes and Mrs Tiggywinkle (Beatrice Potter’s invention) fits the bill–shunning the limelight and keeping herself to herself.
Mrs Tiggy snoozing behind a mat masquerading as a hedgehog!
I’m in favor of hedgehogs–the world needs more of them and too many of the poor creatures end up as roadkill.
If we are inadvertently responsible for nurturing a family or two–I reckon that’s a good enough reason to move to France!
Go Tiggywinkles!
Hints on helping hedgehogs thrive.
Robin Ellis 
you are, indeed, living the dream, Robin *respect* and not a little *envy*
Well, Robin, it won’t be long before you have families of little spikey gourmands if you feed them from your kitchen of delectable delights. 🙂
Hi. I love this story. My daughter had a pygmy hedgehog. They are such sweet creatures. GO, ROBIN> You are my hero for today
Meredith Robin you kind hearted souls Mrs Tiggis. are wonderful , but please do watch out for your puss cats noses.
A lovely vignette. And reading this is a delightful way to start my day. Thanks, Robin and Meredith.
You are noble, indeed, my good man (and lovely lady)! 🙂 I wish we had these in the States! Couldn’t believe how rampant they were when we visited Scotland–of course, the area was full of fields & hedgerows–but I did feel bad for all the ones we saw on the road. They are really neat little creatures! (Surprised the cats don’t hassle them more…)
Cheers & hugs!
Well, your “Little-town” did indeed produce Mrs. Tiggy-winkle! And I hope her little family is tucked safely away in the wood pile, far from the treacherous roads!
What a nice tea time story. Truly delightful! Robin, your writing captured this reader! I look forward to reading more.
Fabulous ….. Absolutely fabulous…. Did likewise when I lived just outside London. Foxes, inc Mum with cubs, hedgehogs and nuts for the squirrels. What joy! X. No foxes on Shetland – nor Squirrels – make do with Puffins, otters, seals and cetaceans. Still miss foxes though.. Just love these pics Robin and Meredith 🙂
Charming piece. I wonder if hedgehogs are what we call woodchucks here?
Woodchucks look more like large hamsters to me, Robert.
We have LARGE woodchucks upstate NY who keep trying to nest under our storage shed. They are cute and shy, and no spines, but they reproduce at an alarming rate. If I ever grow a veg garden, I will have to nudge them to another living spot, as Im sure they will chomp down heavily on the greens!
Never saw one try to sleep near the doorstep, tho. Really cute!
Nancy N
Thank you, Robin and Meredith, for this one. I, too, am a bit envious. The only thing besides my cats to come for scraps is a skunk. Little Pepe came the other night, but I couldn’t get a photo because I was afraid he would spray. I just backed up into the house and let the cats stay inside until I was sure he was gone. Hedgehogs sure are cute.
What a heart warming story and so beautifully illustrated. One thing – hedgehogs usually come heavily armed with fleas! We found this out when one of our dobermans befriended a hedgehog in our garden! Awaiting Part 2 with huge interest.
Enjoyed the nice story and beautiful photos.
Beautiful photos and post…we are very close to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital here…they currently have a large intake of baby hedgies and we took a pile of old towels to them at the weekend to be used as bedding in the nursery! Such lovely creatures. Happy summer!
Thanks Rachel–a good home for old towels and appreciated I’ll bet!
Loved the post & pictures, as we say here, “The more the merrier”
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!! How ADORABLE! Love the cats reactions. What a lovely place – your home is very inviting. Thanks for the cute story.
We once saw a pair risking their lives on a busy crossroads in Ealing. They really didn’t stand a chance, so husband got out of the car, picked them up in his jumper, and carried them in the direction they were headed!
Hedgehog hero!
That was a lovely little story Robin. I have an old friend Heather Edwards, who lives in Clavering, Essex , she is known locally as the hedgehog lady and has hand reared many orphaned hedgehogs brought to her over the years with great results. They are very interesting little characters and their French cousins must give you lots of enjoyable moments . Isn’t nature wonderful? x
Lovely story–thanks, Heather.
Love your in depth description. I smell a children’s book. “The cat who thought he was a hedgehog…. Thanks for the lovely descriptions and photos. Sheila
Sweet and lovely little creatures! A nice example of pacific coexistence, too.
What a wonderful post! Thank you!
Andrea in western France
[…] How silly of me–I left out the hedge hogs…! […]