Sunday 13 July 2014

A rather special garden visitor

 No, not visiting someone else's garden, but a visitor to ours.  Last week, I saw a hedgehog hiding among the pots by the back door.  My first though was one of panic, in case Scruffy was anywhere near it, but he wasn't.  It was around 8.00 pm, so apologies for the light levels and general blurriness of the photos which were taken looking through our sitting room window.
 I put some cat food out for the hedgehog and once he/she had smelt it, it didn't take long for it to be gobbled up.
 I think he/she was even standing on the plate to get at it!
He/she did finish every last bit and then off he/she went on his/her way.  I was thrilled to see a hedgehog as we live in a city, particularly as on the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show coverage on the BBC, there was a report on how these creatures are as endangered in the UK as tigers are in the wild.  Rather a sobering thought.

14 comments:

  1. What a sweet little creature! Rather alarming that they are endangered here. I've been enjoying the coverage of the HCP Flower show too :-)
    Have a good week,
    xx

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    1. Thanks, Gilly. He/she was really sweet. One day, I'd like to visit the Hampton Court show...
      Best wishes and have a good week too
      Ellie

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  2. Awh how very lovely for you to have such a special visitor, I have been so keen for us to try and get a hedgehog house in our garden, but then with a dog and cat, I very much doubt they will want to set up camp with us. How very lovely. Hope you are keeping well. xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Hannapat. We were very lucky to see him/her. I was a bit concerned that one of our cats would want to investigate the hedgehog, but luckily, they didn't.
      Have a good week
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. How WONDERFUL to see a hedgepig in your garden. And how sad to learn that they are critically endangered.

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    1. Thanks, EC. We were indeed very lucky - we don't see many hedgehogs in the garden. It is sad that they are endangered - due to roads and disappearing habitats I think. At east we gave this one a meal to keep him/her going for a bit longer.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Ellie how lovely. Bet you don't have the same problem with slugs that we do !

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    1. Thanks, Anne. Unfortunately, we don't have enough visits from the hedgehogs and our snail and slug population seems to have exploded this year - they are everywhere! Ugh!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Aw he/she is gorgeous! I love hedgehogs. I had not realised that they were as endangered as that, very worrying. He or she is so enjoying that lovely meal and will no doubt be back for more! xx

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    1. Thanks, Alison. We haven't seen him/her since then, but perhaps he/she'll call back soon - I hope so!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. What a little beauty and how wonderful that he/she honoured you with a visit - I hope he/she keeps coming back - maybe it's a 'she' and is pregnant (and extra hungry) ….. that would be exciting wouldn't it! It's very sad that they are an endangered species now …. Have a lovely week Ellie, xoJoy

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    1. Thanks. Joy. We were very lucky to see our visitor. It is very sad that they are so endangered now. I hope they'll keep going somehow.
      Have a lovely week too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  7. How great! It is so sad that they are so endangered now though, as they do a great job in the garden of eating the nasties if nothing else. xx

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    1. Thanks, Amy. Yes, they do. (We have many nasties in the garden that they are very welcome to gobble up! I hope they do!)
      I hope they can survive as a species.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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