3 out of 5 stars
A copy of this was provided free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Of all the wild mammals that we have in the UK the most commonly seen one now is the fox, but go back a few years and most people would have come across the spiny-backed hedgehog snuffling around in the bushes at night in their gardens. When we first moved down to Dorset we had one in our garden too, but haven’t seen it for years now. Turns out these charming little creatures have had a catastrophic slump in numbers and are seriously threatened. This is where this little book comes in.
Coulthard explains just how this prickly mammal has had a long cultural influence, and the lore that has risen around it. But more than that it is crammed full of practical advice on how to care for these creatures should you have one around the garden, what food to put out and the sort of habitats that make the difference between survival and eradication. The book takes us through the year from when a hedgehog emerges from hibernation in March and is full of practical advice. There are lots of charming illustrations by Vanessa Lubach and Sylvie Rabbe liberally scattered throughout too. Really nicely produced book.
Lovely review!
Thank you, Nicki