Mrs Tiggywinkle comes to School - May 2011

Altrincham Preparatory School pupils came face to face with a prickly subject when they were told about the precarious future of the great British Hedgehog.

Although Hedgehogs have been in the U. K. for 15 million years, far longer than man and stretching back beyond the Jurassic period, they are now on endangered species list.

Rochdale environmentalist Sue Lewis, labelled Mrs Tiggywinkle, for her tireless fight to protect the Hedgehog, told APS infant pupils of the dangers caused by mankind.

Sue said: "It is estimated that the number of garden hedgehogs has declined by more than 50% in the last decade alone. Climate change may be confusing the animals, garden habitats are changing with less areas left to nature and then sadly there is the danger of litter and even sheer cruelty. "

Sue added: "The Rochdale Hedgehog Rescue Society sees more and more animals snarled up in plastic bags or with their mouths glued by toffee. Sometimes because they roll themselves into a ball when they sense danger they can even be used as footballs."

However, Sue added: "Children are captivated by seeing a hedgehog close up and when I introduce Dolly, my three-year-old European Hedgehog, they soon realise that the hedgehog is a wonderful creature that should be protected. "

APS Deputy Headteacher Caroline Austen, said: "We want our boys to understand that the natural world, even in their own back gardens, has a complex and precious balance and that they need to protect all wildlife. "

Sue Lewis is pictured with George and hedgehog Dolly.