What the Hecks . . .

They are so very definitely back.

The Heck family of hedgehogs have obviously survived the winter, in spite of the problems of mild days bringing some hedgehogs out too early when there wasn't enough food around. (There's always enough food around in our garden.) We've seen the signs that they were waking and patrolling the garden for some weeks, and then there was the first sightings of the prickly ones themselves last week.

This week they are growing bolder and coming close to the door looking for crunchies or discarded cat food - and preparing to make new baby hoglets.

Last night was one of those nights when Ma and Pa heck were intent on creating the next generation of hedgehogs and the snuffling and grunting that sounded through the garden was very loud indeed. They seemed to find the beds where the fruit bushes are particularly appealing and we could hear grunt snuffle, snuffle grunt coming from there for quite some time.

Then Ma and Pa came for a meal just outside the door where they could crunch away happily - so happily that they didn't even care if I took more pictures.

So once again we have a pair of Hecks in the garden, together with the smaller one that I sptted the other night. If the grunting and snuffling leads to anything then we may yet have more Hecks in a new generation. So we have provided a second hedgehog house and a bundle of meadow hay ready for them to make a home at the bottom of the garden.

No one lives in it yet, but I'll let you know if anyone moves in.