Kilmersdon Gardeners’ speaker this month was Laura Batt, a volunteer at ‘Prickles Hedgehog Rescue’. This charity is based in Cheddar and is passionate about the survival and welfare of hedgehogs.

Set up by Jules Bishop in 2007, it is not open for visiting as it specialises in the rescue, rehabilitation, care and release of hedgehogs. It is dependent on public donations and the support of many volunteer helpers. Their website is: www.prickleshedgehogrescue.org.uk.

Hedgehogs are now a protected species. Numbers in the UK have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to about 1 million now. This is the result of loss of habitat due to changing farming practices, busier roads and expansion of land for housing. If you see one out during the day, sunbathing, wobbling or walking in circles, it is sick. It is best to contact the rescue centre on: 07806 744772. In June, a mother with hoglets may forage in daylight to provide for her young. When frightened, they roll up in a ball, exposing their spines and are vulnerable to traffic. If you see one in the road and can stop safely, carry it to safety with gloves or a towel.

Hedgehogs make their homes in hedgerows, woodland, farmland and gardens. They put on weight in the autumn ready to hibernate through the winter. They need to weigh about 650 grams at this time. If the winter is mild, like this one, they sleep badly and lose weight. Hedgehogs under 400 grams need to be kept warm and fed or they will not survive. If you take a hedgehog to the rescue centre, they will enter it on their database and give you the PH – Prickles Hedgehog number. When recovered, the hedgehog will be returned to you for release if you have a suitable environment free of badgers and terrier dogs.

Considered the gardeners’ friend, they help to keep pests like slugs under control, but we need to consider them in our gardening activities. Five minutes of your time can mean life not death for a hedgehog! Check garages and sheds to avoid shutting a hedgehog in and bonfires before you light them.

Don’t put pea netting close to the ground, provide escape routes from ponds, keep covers over drains, be careful turning over your compost heap not to spear a hedgehog. Avoid blue slug pellets and use alternatives. If you do use them be sparing and collect dead slugs and snails as they are now poisonous to hedgehogs and other wildlife.

Keep wild patches, wood and leaf piles for insects and hedgehogs. Before you strim or mow check the area carefully for hedgehogs. A 13cm square hole in fences between gardens can create a ‘hedgehog highway’ and developers can be encouraged to facilitate this. If you feed them, avoid milk and offer meat in gravy or digestive biscuits. These noisy eaters have sensitive stomachs.

Kilmersdon Gardeners’ next meeting on Wednesday, 8th April is a change to the published programme. Dave Moon will give slide presentations of Chelsea and Three RHS Partner Gardens, 7.30 p.m. at Kilmersdon Village Hall. Visitors will be made very welcome. Trisha Jordan