One In Spirit….From Hugh Warwick….Ness to Ness….
by Bernie Bell - 07:59 on 21 December 2023
One In Spirit…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmmm1WRktmw
Let there be light….
Window in St. Magnus’ Cathedral – pic by Steve Davey.
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From Hugh Warwick….
“Help Hedgehog Street with a decision!
Over the last ten years I must have given away thousands of the leaflets in the picture here. Prior to the launch of the Hedgehog Street campaign - the collaboration between the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People's Trust for Endangered Species, I used to travel to the hundreds of talks I give with a great collection of material from the BHPS ... but this leaflet - oh, it so brilliantly captures most of what we need to share in one simple document.
Well, the good news is, the leaflet is not going anywhere. However, it has been given a gentle overhaul - and this is where you come in.
We have been sent so many AMAZING photographs of hedgehogs - and we want to use one for the new cover. But which one? We have (and this was painful enough) got it down to just FOUR ... in the last meeting we had it was clear that we were not going to be able to decide which should be the cover (I know which one is best ... just seems other people thought differently!)
So - your mission, should you accept it - is to follow THIS LINK - and choose ... (share your choices on the Hedgehog Highways Facebook group - see if you can sway opinion to your favourite hog!!)
I am often asked if I struggle to find things to write about on here ... and have to explain that I simply cannot keep up with all I could be writing! There are so many things that I think you might find interesting.
For example, there was an amazing story about a new species of hedgehog!!! Did you see it? I found this in the New Scientist. The hedgehog was first spotted in 2018 - darker spines and fur compared to 'our' hedgehog - larger ears too - oh, and you probably won't be bumping into it any time soon unless you are in Anhui or Zhejiang in China.
And I know how tricky it can be to find a hedgehog in China ... I went looking for Hugh's Hedgehog (Hemichinus hughii) ... I am not making this up - there is genuinely a hedgehog called Hugh!!! I wrote about it in A Prickly Affair ... oh, now there is a good idea for your friends for Christmas!!
Back to this new hog - it has been given the scientific name of Mesechinus orientalis - in fact the taxonomists have suggested that 'my' hedgehog should be in this genus - meaning that it would be Mesechinus hughii ... though to be honest I do not know what the difference between Hemi and Mese - means ... any of you able to help?
For me it is just thrilling that we are discovering new species of animals - and that there are more hedgehogs for me to try and find!!
Finally - well, maybe not, you know how this goes ... Tracy Pierce from Hedgehog Help in Prestatyn is a powerhouse. She runs a rescue, she makes a real impact in her north Wales community - organising litter picking etc - and is an all round lovely person too! Anyway - she sent me a copy of Prickly Pals in Peril - a book written and illustrated by Joanna Greenwood.
Aimed at kids it is a very lovely story which captures so many of the key points of the Top Tips leaflet - but from the perspective of a very eloquent hedgehog and a small girl called Nia.
So - that is two books for you to buy for all your friends, young and old!
I am not sure I will get another update done before Christmas - so - just in case - I will use this opportunity to wish you all a most joyful time. I hope that we emerge into the new year with a little more vim and vigour (at least, I hope I do!!) - and a desire to keep fighting for our prickly friends.
If you want to see what else I am up to - find me on Twitter and Instagram (I am experimenting with the others, like Threads and Bluesky - but not very fruitfully yet - all as @hedgehoghugh). And coins appreciated in the upturned hat of this e-busker!”
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Ness to Ness…
Folk will be able to study and learn about The Ness as long as there are those to teach about it! But – last chance to be on site….for now….
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2023/12/19/ness-to-ness-2024/
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Here’s one I made earlier – ‘Chicken’ Stew…. http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=15946
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