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We are Rosemary and Simon.We live on the edge of Cambridge, North.

We have never noticed, until last year, that we too have a friendly hedgehog, until we figured out why our security light was blinking on and off as the nights drew in. Its was when we were befriended by Benson ( Formally known as Benson and Hedges, for reasons explained later)

It was late in the autumn, his weight was down to a dangerous level, so we started to feed him, and his diet expanded exponentially to include Pizza's raw Mince, Meal Worms, Cheese ( lots of)  Bacon, and in particular, loves Scots Porridge Oats.....and has the occasional and unknown reason for eating the odd discarded roll up, he has a tobacco habit perhaps he is a hippy hog( now avoided)

Reading up as much as is available about Hedgehogs, as we have done consistently since his arrival, we learned that his weight was not enough, to see him through a bad winter....with baited breath, as he disappeared for the last time at the end of November we had no choice but to wait and see.

We started to pray for a mild winter....long days past into months....Rosemary even had the security camera moved so we can lay in bed watching his favourite feeding station...our Patio steps.

Happily he turned up in March, thin but otherwise intact,,, we continued our interest and support,...it now has become more fun that watching TV, and his five friends played and frolicked in our very small garden, we have become the local drop-in centre for food with excellence !

So we decided, as we have a small project ourselves ( through Street Life 'Arbury' Cambridge ) helping out local people with overgrown gardens, and included our interest and have offered to enlighten and educate those with such Jungles, to consider the Hedge Hog.

We have been met with much interest,, and our initial spare "non work" time, is becoming more and more consumed with gardens, people and hogs.

We then got recommended to contact Sepreth Wildlife Hospital in Hertfordshire, a stones throw across the Cambridgeshire boarder, and things have slowly got busier.

We have decided , it might have been an idea to hold a local Barbeque in a friends garden ( ours in too tiny) and maybe with Sepreth's blessing, to hold a Barbeque.

Well things have moved on from that initial idea and it is now being held at the Carlton Arms public house .www.thecarltonarmscambridge.co.uk 01223 367422

This event was on one of the rare sunny days this year and was well attended. Having never done anything like this before, we have learnt much about how to do the next one.  

What became apparent and has done so much more, since the BBQ, just how the Hedgehog and its character is so deeply seated in peoples minds generally. And Rose found a small prose which we have incorporated on the Hedge Hog Cards we have had printed, it reads,

" As I start thinking that I am sensible and SANE. The Random Hedgehog comes along and fiddles with my BRAIN."

We remain hopeful that if nothing else this small event will inspire local awareness and friendship within our local community  of CB4 and beyond. Oblivious to all this is of course, Benson,,,

We decided to take the cards and our interest on Holiday thereafter, and Visited the Beautiful Salisbury, Berkhamsted, Marlborough and Honey Street, where we stayed at the delightfully eccentric and interesting Pub, The Barge Inn. 

On our tour of the hostelries, donations and great interests were made at the following establishments:

The Haunch Of Venison. Salisbury.  The Barge Inn, Honey Street Pewsey, www.the-barge-inn.com   (Landlady Sharon a special thanks too) Jane Wainwright         ostaraholistictherapies.com   , The Goat Berkhamsted.

Artist. Mr John Ledgerwood ( The Legend) has also brought his own brand of art and style to the Theme of the Hedgehog. He has produce, for sale, a variety of character drawings, each individually signed, and one is able to produce personal  themes based around hedgehogs or other thing or themes.He can be contacted via ourselves. 07707085994.

We hope you find it in your mind to support the work of Sepreth Wildlife Hospital, and even if you cannot attend our very humble barbeque, you do look out for hedgehogs both on the roads and in your gardens.

We would like to eventually bring out  the idea, in a national campaign one day, perhaps on TV, an advert to teach drivers  to treat Hedgehogs as Potholes,,,, isn't it funny how we can all see them, but never the Hogs..until its too late.

Simon and Rosemary Addy. shavaddy@yahoo.co.uk  or bensonthehedgehog@yahoo.co.uk 

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