Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bubbles on May 23, 2015, 01:36:55 PM

Title: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Bubbles on May 23, 2015, 01:36:55 PM
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Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: floo on June 17, 2015, 02:25:50 PM
A few months ago I discovered a hedgehog in a ball resting on a hedgehog shaped stone we have by the front door.

At the weekend we saw a hedgehog walking across the garden.

I have seen several dead hedgehogs on the roads around our village in the last few months.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 02:39:53 PM
Sad but entirely unsurprising news :(
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: floo on June 17, 2015, 02:45:33 PM
Sad but entirely unsurprising news :(

I mentioned this because, whilst dead hedgehogs as road kill used to be very common, they haven't been for the last ten years or so until a few months ago. Dead badgers seem to be quite common road kill these days, which they weren't in the past.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 17, 2015, 02:55:52 PM
Big killers of hedgehogs are slug pellets, discarded plastic and drowning in garden ponds, aside from roadkill.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 02:59:28 PM
Our fault, yet again :(
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 17, 2015, 03:03:31 PM
Yes, the damage we have done to our native wildlife beggars belief. Can you imagine what walking in our fields must have sounded like before industrialised farming? Well, no, actually.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 03:14:48 PM
If any visiting alien, or possibly far future human, were to write a report on humanity they would put religion, clothing and culture further down the list; at the top they'd define the human animal as "the one that can't live peaceably in keeping with the natural world."
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 17, 2015, 04:30:09 PM
'Soils its home routinely.'
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 17, 2015, 04:31:58 PM
And yet we have this fashion for being 'in nature' as a kind of cure-all. What that usually means is having your fast food lunch in the park.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 04:55:05 PM
'Soils its home routinely.'
'Can't keep its numbers down.'
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on June 17, 2015, 07:36:35 PM
What's the difference between the British Humanist Association/Archdiocese of Canterbury Minibuses and a hedgehog?

The hedgehog has the pricks on the outside.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 07:40:52 PM
I suppose it's a modest improvement on the "X said 'I feel a bit funny' ... 'Quick, get on stage before it wears off'" one we haven't heard in at least a week.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on June 17, 2015, 07:44:32 PM
I suppose it's a modest improvement on the "X said 'I feel a bit funny' ... 'Quick, get on stage before it wears off'" one we haven't heard in at least a week.
I for one am grateful to you that you've given it it's run this week.
Would you like to do it next week or are you happy for me to do it?
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Shaker on June 17, 2015, 07:47:15 PM
No, let's just take it as done.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Nearly Sane on June 17, 2015, 07:50:29 PM
Let's just call it Number 1, and it doesn't need saying other than that.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on June 17, 2015, 07:54:36 PM
Let's just call it Number 1, and it doesn't need saying other than that.
Although that idea has comic appeal there's just something in lovingly and painstakingly typing it out again................
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: BashfulAnthony on June 18, 2015, 02:12:49 AM
If any visiting alien, or possibly far future human, were to write a report on humanity they would put religion, clothing and culture further down the list; at the top they'd define the human animal as "the one that can't live peaceably in keeping with the natural world."

But, in fairness, a tribute to those individuals who spend their time and life caring for their fellow creatures - too few of them though!
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: horsethorn on June 18, 2015, 10:07:32 AM
On a more positive note, We have recently discovered that a large hedgehog is living in our shed :)

I might call it Spiny Norman... although it's not *that* big...

"Dinsdale! DINSDALE!!!"

ht
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 18, 2015, 10:11:26 AM
On a more positive note, We have recently discovered that a large hedgehog is living in our shed :)

I might call it Spiny Norman... although it's not *that* big...

"Dinsdale! DINSDALE!!!"

ht

Oooh, could it be that Norman is in fact Norma and she's huge because little spiky babies are in the way?

Cat food is good if you want to feed Norma. And plain water to drink if there are no puddles around.
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Nearly Sane on June 18, 2015, 10:13:02 AM
For anyone hard of Python

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=8ZkWL-XvO0U
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=C-FDW1shmqA
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: horsethorn on June 18, 2015, 10:20:38 AM
Those links don't go to Python, NS. They link to Something Completely Different...

ht
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Nearly Sane on June 18, 2015, 10:27:09 AM
And in other news


http://m.youtube.com/?hl=en-GB&gl=GB#/watch?v=rxQpUDTb_Rg


http://m.youtube.com/?hl=en-GB&gl=GB#/watch?v=-u436Zr-QFQ
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: horsethorn on June 18, 2015, 10:29:13 AM
Nope, Still goes to a compilation page lacking any Python...

ht
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Udayana on June 18, 2015, 04:49:20 PM
Church wildlife haven destroyed by council contractors

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-33181509

Quote
Local resident Daniel Villa said he was "livid" after the company "strimmed around the signs that states no cutting back will be done until autumn".
He said: "They drove their big mowers over the graves, damaging them.
"Four dead hedgehogs were found mangled by the machinery along with several fledgling birds, frogs. All the wild flowers are gone, along with all the bees , butterflies and other abundant pollinators that were there."
Title: Re: UK hedgehog numbers 'in drastic decline'
Post by: Rhiannon on June 18, 2015, 05:59:38 PM
Church wildlife haven destroyed by council contractors

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-33181509

Quote
Local resident Daniel Villa said he was "livid" after the company "strimmed around the signs that states no cutting back will be done until autumn".
He said: "They drove their big mowers over the graves, damaging them.
"Four dead hedgehogs were found mangled by the machinery along with several fledgling birds, frogs. All the wild flowers are gone, along with all the bees , butterflies and other abundant pollinators that were there."

Absolutely heartbreaking.  :(

Our two parish church grounds are managed for wildlife. The cutting is done by a guy with a scythe (sadly not Aiden Turner). Keeping the muppets from the local authority well away really is essential.