Sonic the Hedgehog

On the 7th July I was working in the car park next to the 3G pitches and happened to see this little guy shuffling across the tarmac and then into the border. I love seeing wildlife like this on campus because it just shows how diverse our campus can be with the amount of wildlife we come across.
This one was an adult as, although its hard to tell on the photograph, it was actually quite large.
Then on the 27th July whilst litter picking on a morning before the morning graduation took place I saw this little guy in the grass.

Now this one had me concerned because its very unusual to see a baby hedgehog curled up in plain site in an open grassed area during the day. So I did a little research online and got in contact with the Hedgehog Society and I found out that should you ever find a hedgehog like this then it needs urgent care and assistance.

So I'd just like to share some information with you about the hedgehog otherwise known as Erinaceus europaeus.
Although once a common sight across the British Isles but not on the Scottish Islands, it is now in severe decline with an estimate in 2010 of just 1 million now in the wild (1).
A hedgehog can have between 5000 and 7000 spines on their body and what many people aren't aware of is that they do actually have a small tail (2).
Their dietary needs consist mainly of insects but they are known to be partial to a bit of dog food and it does help to put out a saucer of water especially during the summer season.
Should you find a baby hedgehog called a Hoglet sunbathing like I did last week then this does need urgent care. The only reason for them to do this is to try and warm up. So should you find one then you should put it in a fleece or towel lined box using thick gardening gloves, and place a bottle of warm water either underneath or to the side of the hoglet to try and warm it up.

Then you should call your local hedgehog rescue centre or the Hedgehog Preservation Society (01584 890 801) to find out your next step.
Unfortunately for the little guy I found, it was too late. I managed to get him into a box with a warm water bottle and took him to my local rescue but just as we arrived he passed away. It was rather heart wrenching as we got so close but not soon enough. So should you find yourself in a similar situation please do try and save them asap as they are becoming an endangered species within Britain, as it would be such a shame for this species to become extinct.


1: http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/pdf/SoBH_2015.pdf
2: http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/leaflets/L9-Basic-Facts.pdf

Photographs taken by myself on 7th July and 27th July.

Congratulations!

We had over 5000 students graduating last week and luckily it only rained heavily for one of those days.
Paul potted up some fantastic looking planters which we dotted around campus to give that dash of colour which we all love to have in the background of our photographs.

The entire university came together to create a fantastic event for our graduates which should be remembered by them for a long time to come. I know I still remember my own graduation.
The grounds team worked very hard to ensure the borders looked their best for those important photographs. We started at 7am every morning to make sure the grass was cut and any litter was removed before the first arrivals of the day. I'd like to think that our hard work paid off and that visitors and staff alike enjoyed the week in a stunning and colourful location.

(Photographs taken by Carl 25-29th July)

August Maintenance

What to do in the garden in August

 

·         Towards the end of August sow hardy annuals directly into borders. They will overwinter and flower next summer (Just remember where you’ve planted them to not get them mixed up with weeds)

·          Cut back the foliage and stems of herbaceous plants that have already died back

·         Don’t neglect hanging baskets - deadheading, watering and feeding will help them last through until autumn

·         Dead-head plants such as Dahlia, roses and Penstemon and bedding plants to stop them self-seeding and to prolong the display into early autumn

·         Don’t cut off the flowers of ornamental grasses as these will provide winter interest

·         Hardy geraniums can be cut back a little to remove tired leaves and encourage a new flush of growth

·         Prune climbing and rambling roses that do not repeat flower or produce attractive hips, once the flowers have finished

·         Prune Wisteria and shrubs such as Pyracantha after flowering

·         Lightly prune Hebes and lavenders after flowering

·         Give hedges a final trim. They will only grow a little before the cold weather kicks in

·         Keep early-flowering shrubs such as Camellia and Rhododendron well watered during dry periods to ensure good flower bud initiation

·         Keep patio containers plants well watered

·         Stake tall or top heavy Dahlias and Lilies to prevent wind and rain damage

·         Dead-head Lilies for a better flower display next year

·         Cut back herbs now to encourage a new flush to harvest before the frost

·         Collect ripened seed and store for next year. Leave some in place as they can be aesthetically pleasing to see

·         Mow wildflower meadows to help scatter the seeds

·         Take cuttings of your favourite tender perennials such as Pelargoniums and Fuchsia to propagate them for next year

·         Finish dividing clumps of Bearded Iris so they have time to form roots and flower buds for next year before the cold weather arrives

 

 

Information provided by www.thompson-morgan.com and www.rhs.org.uk