The Autumn colours were spectacular this year when it wasn't raining and I saw my first Redwing in the Caistor area on the 7 October 2019 and my first Fieldfare on the 10 October 2019. These colourful birds come over from Scandinavia to spend the Winter in the UK, feeding off all the berries in the hedges etc.
Was doing some work down at Cabourne church last week when I noticed a juvenile Hedgehog foraging. Hedgehogs should be in hibernation this time of year, not foraging. They only come out of hibernation to forage this time of year when they have not built up enough fat stores to last the Winter. So I called my Mum to bring me a cardboard box with paper in and to call Caistor Hedgehog Care. The Hedgehog was then collected and given to Caistor Hedgehog Care. This young Hedgehog only weighed 390g and they need to be a minimum of 650g to survive the Winter hibernation period, so will now spend the Winter at Caistor Hedgehog Care where it will be fattened up, ready for release next Spring. Be careful moving piles of leaves and logs as there could be Hedgehogs etc hibernating in them.
It is always good to think about Hedgehogs as they do a lot of good for gardens by eating slugs and other invertebrates. As they need a large foraging area, you need to make sure that there is a 13cm x 13cm gap in fences so that they can get through into neighbouring gardens to forage there as well. If you want you can also provide Hedgehog houses and Hedgehog food. Remember not to put any slug pellets etc. down that will poison the Hedgehogs. Hedgehog numbers are down so need our help and every little bit helps.
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