This upside-down blue plastic thing is a boat shaped, children's, sand pit; sometimes used as a boat on the pool. It had been put to over-winter out of sight.
Yesterday I lifted it up, and found a leafy nest underneath. I don't know who's living there, but I think it may be Mrs (or Mr) Tiggywinkle.
Hedgehogs are delightful garden creatures, and I like to encourage them. If this is indeed a Hedgehog Winter home, I shall make sure it's there again next Winter too.
36 comments:
You have hedgehogs? Sweet!
Haven't seen a hedgehog in years . Nice to have one snuffling round the garden. Hope he returns
Ah, lovely. A hedgehog wintering under a 'boat'.
Alphie
I can't think what else it could be... I'll probably never know.
We see them occasionally, but only if disturbed.
Sounds like a children's story.
I wonder how he/she pushed his way under there.
Perseverance I imagine.
Love to see these little fellows, but sadly they seem to be getting scarce.
We used to often see hedgehogs in our Wiltshire garden. I can remember plucking spines out of our dog's nose after she decided to play with one.
I'm still not 100% sure that it is one, although I can't think what else it could be. We last saw one about five years ago when we disturbed one in our wood pile.
I'll tell Lady M not to play with them.
Had he gone out for a walk? A bit early to have got up dont you think?
No shortage of hedgehogs here.
Apart from having spines, I am totally ignorant about hedgehogs. We have echidnas here, which also have spines. As well as the spines that protect them, they can quickly burrow down in to the ground.
I imagine he was at home under that pile of leaves. I didn't like to disturb.
They are cute and harmless, and wander around at night eating slugs. Very garden friendly creatures.
You can re-examine next week with the boys to see if Mrs Tiggiewinkle is still asleep.
I have "rescued" 2 small hedgehogs found by the dog in the garden this last 2 years. They were too small late in the year to survive hibernation, so they went to a nearby " hedgehog lady" to be looked after. When No 2 went to her, she told me that No 1 was thriving and soon to go back into " the wild". .
What a lovely warm looking little nest, and I hope that whatever is using that nest has managed to survive what has been a very chilly winter.
I think whatever it is chose a very warm spot. Out of the wind, as dry as it could possibly be, and surrounded by cosy autumn leaves.
If it is a hedgehogs house, he will be hibernating under those leaves until mid March .... you did put the boat back didn't you Cro ?!!!!
We used to have lots of hedgehogs in our garden but they are getting a bit scarce now .... look after him .... they like tinned dog or cat food ( the meaty varieties !! )
XXXX
Yes they like cat food, they are here every night eating the cat food.
On summer evenings I sometimes get a glimpse of one in the gardens. They can move surprisingly quickly. We had news that our little rescue one didn't make it.
The only kind of hedgehogs we have here in America are the stuffed animal kind. I hope that you are right and that you get to see your little visitor.
I lifted the boat, took my snap, and put it back as it was. I left him in peace. I don't think I'll put food out; I'm hoping he'll eat all my slugs.
I know people who put cat food out for them. They seem to love it.
They are becoming quite rare here now. I can remember years ago coming back late at night and seeing five all together on the lawn.
I doubt if I'll see him. One day he'll wake, and wander off without saying a word.
Won't it be fun to tell your grandchildren about who you think stayed in their boat over the winter! I know I enjoyed hearing about it.
They're coming over next weekend, so I'll show them.
Oh my goodness, do you have hedgehogs ? I would love to see one.
What a sweet nest for whoever lives there.
cheers, parsnip
Weaver has posted about the hedgehogs that live around her.
She does put cat food out for them I think.
We are over-run with hedgehogs which were only introduced to the Islands about 35 years ago. They are a major problem because they eat the eggs of the ground-nesting birds.
They are lovely creatures, I just wish they were more open and friendly.
I didn't know that. We used to have a resident Nightingale family very nearby, but I was told that they are ground-nesting, and were probably wiped out by cats. Maybe it was Hedgehogs!
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