HEDGEHOG

One of the most popular visitors to Otley’s gardens, and not just with gardeners battling with slugs and snails. For a wild animal they’re relatively bold. Last night one was spotted drinking gratefully from a shallow bowl of water left out for thirsty wildlife in this dry spell. It’s believed that when threatened by cars significant numbers are now runners rather than rollers, and if they survive other threats (habitat and food loss), evolution will reduce the numbers squashed on our roads. It is a big “if,” of course.