Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail. 15th October 2016
Help Hungry Hedgehogs
One of the things that makes my public talks and speeches a bit different from many others is the fact I love keeping them interactive. I am often asked to do a complete Q&A evening for some organisations and whereas a lot of speakers I know dread that section of their talk, I relish it. And largely because I inevitably get to learn a lot from the audience!
Whilst speaking at the Crickhowell in Bloom Awards last week I was thrilled to hear from a ‘hedgehog rescuer’ in the audience who gave some great advice. Hedgehogs will soon be going into hibernation and will only make it through the winter if they are over a certain weight before the start of hibernation, in order to live off their stores. So they will appreciate being fed at this time of year. They love proprietary hedgehog food, ferret food and dried kitten food and if you put a saucer over the top of the bowl of food it will deter cats and other animals from pinching Spike’s supper. Hedgehogs are used to moving stones with their noses and will easily dislodge the saucer whereas other visitors won’t bother. And don’t forget a saucer of water for them too, it has been quite dry of late and often watering holes are few and far between for wildlife.
A Different Kind of Hedgehog
Although revered for their visual effects, autumn leaves can be a bit challenging when they block gutters and drains. They are a bit late falling this year but make no mistake, down they will come eventually! Several years ago I was asked to trial the new Hedgehog Gutter Brush and did so with great scepticism.
At a time where our traditional hedgehogs are thinking planning hibernation, this ‘Hedgehog’ (as it is affectionately known in the trade) comes into it’s own. A very simple concept, the ‘Hedgehog’ simply sits neatly in your gutters preventing twigs, leaves and other debris from settling there and causing blockages. Obviously rainwater is still channelled as necessary without any hindrance. The ‘Hedgehog is easy to install, comes with a 10 year guarantee and can also be used to prevent clogged garden and pathways drains.
And it does exactly what it claims to do. Mine is still working a treat and the product is now stocked nationwide in various DIY stores. Or visit hedgehoggutterbrush.com for more details and to watch a demonstration video.
Pumpkin Pie Anyone?
Congratulations to Matthew Oliver for taking the new UK record for the biggest pumpkin grown outdoors. Weighing in at a hefty 1,333.8lb – which is over 95 stone – and with a circumference of around 15 ft, he totally squashed the competition at the annual pumpkin festival in Southampton last weekend.
The monster fruit (yep, fruit; not a vegetable. Botanically speaking, fruits are the part of flowering plants that contain the seeds and are the means by which such plants disseminate those seeds.) was grown from a seed taken from a 2,323lb pumpkin grown in Switzerland in 2014 that holds the world record, according to the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.
The seed itself set another record when seed company Thompson and Morgan paid a whopping £1,250 for it at an auction earlier this year.
Oliver was asked by Thompson and Morgan to grow the seed, which was planted in mid-April and took just six days to germinate.
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And spare a thought for brothers Ian and Stuart Paton who took the UK record for a giant pumpkin (grown indoors) for the seventh time with one that had a circumference of over 19ft but was just 71lb short of the world record.
During its main growing period, the pumpkin ‘drank’ more than 100 gallons of water a day
And the brothers spent five hours each day nurturing the three giant pumpkins they entered into the competition.
Stuart Paton said: “We’ve always been confident of winning the world title eventually, and our new greenhouse will make all the difference. We are going to challenge the Swiss and the Americans!”
Thompson & Morgan will harvest the seeds from the giant pumpkin and be selling them (£9.99 for two), so if you fancy trying to nurture a Welsh winner, good luck!
Terry Walton – take note!
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