How you can help Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s friends this Autumn!
About Mrs Tiggy-Winkle: Mrs Tiggy-Winkle is a hedgehog washerwoman, a homely character that loves to take care of all the creatures around her by washing, ironing and drying their clothes! She lives in a small cottage hidden in the fells of the Lake District. Beatrix Potter’s Mrs Tiggy-Winkle story is based on a little girl named Lucie stumbling across Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s home whilst searching for her handkerchief and pinafore and she ends up staying for tea with the friendly little hedgehog. Mrs Tiggy-Winkle is one of the most famous hedgehogs in literature and was even inspired by Beatrix Potter’s own pet hedgehog!
But did you know that British hedgehogs are officially classified as vulnerable to extinction? Hedgehogs were officially classified as vulnerable to extinction by the Red List for British mammals on 30th July 2020 after a third of the population has been lost in the last millennium. With dwindling numbers in the UK, it is now more important than ever to aid these lovely little creatures in all the ways we can.
So, how can we help hedgehogs like Mrs Tiggy-Winkle?
Create a Hedgehog friendly garden!
Firstly, you will need to ensure that your garden does not contain anything dangerous for hedgehogs, this could be netting, plastic, chemicals and any litter that may be in your garden. Make sure this is all removed so that hedgehogs can play safely in your garden! Remember to be careful whilst tidying your garden for Autumn as this is the nesting season and hedgehogs love to use overgrown areas to breed!
If you have a pond, try to make it safe for little hedgehogs to move around and get out of! Did you know that hedgehogs are adept swimmers? If they wish to have a dip in the pond to cool down, make sure they can easily climb out by creating a little ramp for them to use.
Overgrown plants? No problem! Let your plants thrive to create a hedgehog friendly corner in the garden. Hedgehogs love spaces they can hide and nest and there’s nowhere better than a garden full of lovely plants to make their home. Full of life, these plants can help shelter hedgehogs as well as being a source of food with the many insects they will be able to find and munch on!
Or why not go one step further and create your very own hedgehog shelter in the garden, create a wooden little house and fill with dry straw to keep them warm and cosy in the Autumn months! You can also be helpful by leaving Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s friends some water and treats, they love both cat food and meaty dog biscuits!
Help with a hedgehog highway! In order to make your garden more accessible for our prickly little friends why not create a safe hedgehog doorway into the fence to make their journey into your garden easier and much more welcoming for Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s friends.
Although hedgehogs are super cute, we do not recommend touching them, with defensive prickles these adorable little creatures are shy and prefer not to be disturbed. But our Mrs Tiggy-Winkle Soft Toy loves to be cuddled, super soft and fluffy she is perfect for snuggling into this autumn. Why not cuddle up in front of the fire and enjoy the tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle with your little one to introduce them to these charming little creatures, a much loved story featuring our favourite little hedgehog.
