[scabs]

Rio the rescue hedgehog has decided enough is enough, opened his hutch and done one!

We have had him since he was brought to me back in October as an underweight hodgeling and, when he came out of hibernation this year, he didn't look like he was going to make it.

We had planned to release him into the allotment wildlife garden, where there is a specially designed hedgehog 'nest', in front of the children and fellow plot holders, but Rio had other plans...

I'm just delighted that we did a good job and he was well enough to do a 'Great Escape'! :-)

[SnooziSuzi]

Aw how lovely

[Mrs Bee]

How gorgeous.

Our security light is  set off regularly by a big fat hedgehog.

When we had our new fences done we had a hedgehog hole cut  in the gravel board and put a ramp for the hedgehogs.

Unfortunately the ruddy fox gets through it too.

[scabs]

Thanks guys.

I've been wanting to release him for a few weeks now, but the plot steward asked me to hold off so that we can organise a bit of a 'thing' and get the local rag to take a few photos - fair enough, I'm all for that, but I think he was getting restless.

Funny thing is that for two or three weeks, he's been opening the hutch (goodness knows how), having a mooch and then settling down back in the hutch (which, I hasten to add, is four feet high, on top of another hutch!)

This time, I think it has dawned on him that there's a bigger world to explore!

He was about 250 grammes when he was found and I managed to get him up to 350 in a few weeks but not in time to release him before the winter hibernation, so we kept him indoors for a while and then 'hardened' him off by putting him in a 'hibernation hutch' on the plot, in a fairly sheltered and quiet spot.

Sure enough, he went into hibernation and we just hoped for the best.

When he came out in March, he was badly underweight and in a real state. I put him on a diet of regular, small amounts of fresh water, eggs and... fat balls! Once he gained some weight, we changed the diet to eggs and mealworms (with the very occasional fat ball treat).

I'll probably be lambasted for the diet, but it worked! 

[Mrs Bee]

You are to be commended for saving him not be lambasted

We need all the hedgehogs possible as they are in declining numbers.

My mum found 2 underweight hedgies when my son was small and ahe kept them through the winter and successfully released them as chubby little porkers in the spring.

My son loved helping her.

[scabs]

Although I have told my three children repeatedly that we were always going to release him, they really wanted to keep him! I haven't told them yet that he's gone... 

[ANHBUC]

We love a happy ending and you have to let nature do its own thing.  You will have to rename him Steve McQueen.     Hope he pops back from time to time.

[scabs]

Me too, for slug control if nothing else!

[amurdin]

allotment wildlife garden... what a good idea, what else do you have there?

[sunshineband]

Rio has that determined look in his eye, so I am sure he is faring well outside in the wide world 

[Plottered]

hey scabs....I hope he makes his way over to plot 50b to say hello to my slugs 

[scabs]

Hi guys,

Plottered: he has strict instructions (and his work cut out) to fight the good fight on plot 36!

Sunshine: he really should have been called Harry H   

Amurdin: we are very lucky, we have a communal garden and polytunnel, high beds for those with disabilies, a wildlife garden, bee garden (though no hives yet) and lots of animals - poultry and water fowl, horses, goats, donkeys and pigs.

I have just recently become involved in a trial 'community farm', in which four of us have entered a shared ownership and responsibility scheme to breed and raise pigs for the table. We have our first two and spent all yesterday digging in post holes for the new paddock. 

[amurdin]

awww thats sounds so good, is the allotment private?

[scabs]

No, council-owned. 

[amurdin]

a better council then ours....but then again not sure if anyone has thought of it at our, but has put a good idea into my head