Spike

A couple of weekends ago I found a distressed hedgehog on my lawn and ended up taking it to hospital. I had no idea how much interest its fate would generate and I was rather regretting not naming it Gordon so that I could triumphantly tell my readers that "Gordon's alive!". Just like all the jobs/gigs/women that I've wanted over the years the protocol with the hedgehog hospital was "don't call us, we'll call you – no news is bad news".

At the weekend my curiosity got the better of my patience and I rang the hospital for an update. I'm sad to say that Spike died the night after he was admitted. There was blood around his mouth so it seems probably that he had eaten something poisonous, which is consistent with staggering around in daylight.

Despite Spike's demise I strongly recommend Prickly Ball Farm. They offer free hedgehog advice and care. You can go on a tour of the hospital and there is also a petting zoo (with kleptomaniac orphan lambs) and a good café.

Richard "About to be overrun with slugs" B