Hedgehog Pots!

Some of you may know that as well as being a hedgehog fanatic I'm also a studio potter.

I'm still developing my own style, but thanks to hedgehogs I feel like I'm heading in the right direction now as they've given me a lot of inspiration.

A while back I posted some work in progress photos of some hedgehog inspired pots, but now they are finally finished and I'm really loving how they turned out!

Mugs

Bowls

Beads

Bowls with legs!

And coasters

I'm hoping to develop the style further and already have a couple of more ideas underway!
If you're interested in buying any of these items, please see what's available in my Etsy Shop.

A Hoggy Education

With all my hogs in hibernation, I've been catching up on going through some videos from earlier in the year.

It's been just over a year since I got a camera trap and have been able to see what my hedgehog friends get up to at night, and I've learned a lot!

Here' they are sharing some of their hoggy habits!




This is just observation for a bit of fun not solid science, but I hope it leads some people to want to find out more about our prickly neighbours! X3

Slugs for Dinner?

It's a bit of a misconception that hedgehogs eat lots of slugs. They are often called 'the gardeners friend' for this very reason, but actually they don't eat slugs very often. Well would you want to eat something so slimy and rubbery?

Certainly I've never seen a hedgehog show any more interest in a slug than Big Bob does in this clip.



And judging from the slug invasion in my garden this year there wasn't a lot of munching going on apart from by the slugs themselves!

Information from the excellent Wildlifeonline website suggests only 27% of the hedgehogs studied diet was slugs. Caterpillars, beetles, earwigs and earthworms were much more popular.

So hedgehogs are still 'the gardeners friend' eating some garden pests even if they're not eating many slugs as they've long been famed for.

Hiccuping Hedgehog!?

Looks like Hoggle here has the hiccups after scoffing his food!
I'm not surprised, the does everything at top speed!

Hog and Frog!

Hedgehogs do eat frogs if they can catch them, but it's not easy, they're slippery and can hop out of harms way!



Talking of amphibians, while going through the summer footage I also discovered I have toads in the garden too!
Brilliant!

I Ain't Afraid of No Cat!

I love seeing the action of a hog raising it's spines, this clip is a good one!

Big Bob The Bully

I've been going through video footage of what the hedgehogs have been up to this summer as I hadn't had time till now and I've found that Bob has been a naughty hog bullying Hoggle!

Round 1




Round 2




Round 3



Maybe that's why Pog and Hoggle stopped visiting. Naughty Big Bob!

I've been a busy hedgehog!

After giving my hedgehog talk this morning at St Peters Church, Rugby we went to get some dinner at Whilton Locks Garden Village.

Here I am buying some supplies to fatten me up for winter.



The staff we're all very helpful!



Whilton Locks is the only place I have found locally that stocks Spike's hedgehog food. They have the whole range too!
My friend Oggy likes the semi-moist best so I'm buying a big bag for us to share.

When I got home I installed a brand new hedgehog house made by my friend Frank.
I'm hoping Oggy will want to hibernate in it.
Doesn't it look good?



In fact it looks so cosy I think I might try it out myself right now for a nap!

Hedgehog Talk

This Saturday 12th Nov I'm dressing up as a hedgehog and doing a short hedgehog/wildlife talk at St John's Church in Rugby. from 11 to 12.

I'll be bringing along some hedgehog poop for disection as well as some videos of my hedghogs.

There will also be making of bug boxes and I'll be bringing some bird boxes made by local carpenter and hedgehog Doors for sale!

A Halloween Apparition!

I thought the fireworks going off and the chance of trick or treaters might make my new hedgehog friend delay her breakfast till later tonight, but she was only a little late in arriving!
The hour changing means I have a chance to see her in person too!





I think as she appeared after my holiday in Wales, and because she reminds me of Pog, I'll call her Oggy. :)

The Hedgehog Returns!

Pog my first hedgehog disappeared from her regular nightly visits about 3 months ago now not long after the appearance of Big Bob. I hoped she had gone off to have hoglets but she didn't reappear with any, so then I wondered if Big Bob's romantic attentions had driven her off.

Then Big Bob and Hoggle had a disagreement and Hoggle decided to try his fortunes elsewhere.

So I was left with Big Bob, scoffing everything in sight and strutting about like he owned the place. LOL

Then about a month ago Big Bob vanished too. ;___;

I've missed my hedgehogs and didn't think I would see any until Spring when I might get some new visitors.
But after arriving back from holiday last week I was excited to find fresh hedgehog pop in my front garden!

I laid a trail of mealworms and moved the hedgehog restaurant to an easier to find location and the very next night, I had a hoggy guest! :3



It looks like a female. She doesn't appear to know where the feeding stations are so I'm thinking it's probably not Pog, but maybe she just forgot.
She did spend the night in one of the hogtels the other night, so I'm hoping, Pog or not she decides to spend the winter. :)

Work in Progress - Hedgehog Pots

All my hedgehog friends have stopped visiting, it's been a couple of weeks since even Big Bob came.
I hope they are all OK.

To distract myself I've been making hedgehog inspired ceramics while my studio is having an open studio exhibition.

Over the last 3 days I've thrown white earthenware pots, dipped them in terracotta slip, burnished them and then carved into them and added features to make hedgehog pots!

They are unfired in the pictures below.







I'm still deciding which style I like best and have a few more pots to experiment with but I'm liking how they are turning out so far.

Which is your favourite?

If you fancy visiting my studio and seeing hedgehog pots being made the exhibition runs all week until next Sunday, 10:30 - 4:00
For more info please visit http://www.gridstudios.co.uk

Fox, Badger and Hedgehog Hats

Now you can make a free fox or badger hat to go with your hedgehog hat!

Badger Hat Download





Fox Hat Download





Hedgehog Hat Download

Hedgehog doors now available in BHPS Hogalogue!

This is a very proud moment for Hedgehog Doors, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society has put them in their latest catalogue and online store.

Pog just got her copy in the mail today, doesn't she look thrilled!



You'll find us on the back page, but don't forget to look at all the other excellent hedgehog gifts!




If you don't receive the Hogalogue, never fear you can also order from the BHPS online shop.
Or use our shop link on this blog to access our own shop.

Thanks for having Hedgehog Doors in your Hogalogue BHPS! We hope it helps create lots more doorways for hedgehogs!

Lets Make Hedgehog Hats!

It's a rainy day here so it seemed a good day for some making!

I've designed a simple easy to make hedgehog hat that prints off onto one A4 sheet.
You can use paper but thin card is better if you have it.
It's one size fits all, and it does fit adults, yay! XD



Then just follow the instructions of the print off to make your hat!

Print off your Hedgehog Hat Here!




If anyone wants to use this hat for charitable reasons, personal parties, to help raise hedgehog awareness, or any non-profit reason, please go ahead.

Big Bob Loves Pog!

'Can you feel the love tonight...'

Big Bob spent an hour wooing Pog! <3

Meet Big Bob

I've thought there were 2 male hedgehogs visiting the garden for a while, but now I'm definitely sure there is. So Hoggle has a rival for Pog's affections, in the form of Big Bob!




Big Bob did appear to have hurt his leg when he next appeared, however it seems to have healed up and wasn't causing him any problems when he started flirting with Pog... await the next post for news of their romance! <3

Hedgehog Round-up

Here's a round-up of fun video clips from the most recent camera footage. X3

I think Pog's been on the beer in this first one, she's certainly having trouble getting into the greenhouse.




Here's a typical super speed visit from Hoggle. This footage is not speeded up! XD
I love how he waddles along like a clockwork toy!




And finally, I'm still not bored of watching itchy hedgehogs, I hope you're not!

Romancing the Pog

After a break from trying to romance Pog, Hoggle is back at it with maximum enthusiasm.
In fact I have heard him in the night through the open windows huffing his love to her.



<3

Wait, that's not a hedgehog!

My parents have had a fun wild visitor to their garden recently, look who it is:



Apparently there has been a muntjac population explosion this year. This little chap has scaled 6ft fences and braved roads and many gardens to reach my parents garden.

Pogs Paddle

I put out extra water for the hedgehogs as it's been so hot, here's Pog enjoying one of the new bowls. X3

Hedgehog Scent-Marking

Did you know that hedgehogs scent mark?
They do so by rubbing their chins on things, here's Hoggle giving a perfect example.




Not much is known about the important of scent marking in hedgehogs. It's thought only males do so and they may also scent mark in their poo, which might explain Hoggle's bad habit of pooing by the food bowl.

Hedgehog Antics

Sometimes I don't have the chance to check the camera trap for ages, but when I do there's always something those hedgehogs are doing that amuses me!
Here's a few from the most recent footage.

Pog had some rearranging to do in the garden.



Scratching and shaking hedgehogs always make me smile! x3



And I didn't know what Pog was doing here at first, then I realised she was scratching with her other foot. XD

Engage Forcefield!

I had to make adjustments to the outside feeding station after neighbourhood moggy, Mo Cat decided he wanted Pog 's nuggets.
Pog had to relearn how to negotiate the new obstacle.



Despite the failure of the forcefield, Pog's nuggets are safe, mostly. Mo Cat was just impatient because his humans were late feeding him that week.

Friends of Pog

It's amusing to see what other creatures get caught on the hedgehog camera trap.
Look who's been to visit. X3




You also capture a lot of neighbourhood cats, like brothers Mo and Dillan here.

Pog's Army

Last night I set up my home-made footprint tunnel after finally getting hold of some powder paint.




I hoped to get a few prints, but this morning it looks like a whole hedgehog army has marched through! XD



Either that or cheeky Hoggle was running back and forth through it, which wouldn't surprise me.

In any case I'm thrilled with my hedgehog pawtographs! :D




If you want to discover if there is a hedgehog, or hedgehog army in your garden in Rugby, you don't have to go to the trouble of making your own footprint tunnel, because Warwickshire Wildlife Trust are offering free use of their footprint traps and training in how to use them!
The course runs this Friday evening.
Click here for more information!