Enjoy making Ted the teasel hedgehog with very few resources. It's a simple activity that is suitable for any member of the family to make from super young to very old! Autumn is another season for which to be aware of our beautiful Hedgehogs. In autumn, usually somewhere between October to November our spikey friends will go into hibernation and unless the weather is very mild for the UK they don't come back out again until the Spring. This year (2020) the British hedgehog officially became listed as vulnerable to extinction and so this winter, and in the years to come, we all need to do what we can to help our friend the hedgehog for future generations to be able to come to love them as we do. Here's what we can do to help during the winter: *Hedgehogs like to hibernate under large piles of leaves and logs so try to leave them alone at this time of year wherever you find them. *Classically when you are collecting for bonfire night, hedgehogs are making nests in the base - they have no idea what bonfire night it - so always check the base before lighting them - otherwise you may accidentally injure them.
*If you're tidying up your garden be kind and leave those logs and leaves at the edges - it will also encourage a whole host of other insects and wildlife to your garden during the winter months.
*If you have fencing, cut at least a CD sized hole into them so hedgehogs can get in and out and please encourage your neighbours to do the same - this helps create hedgehog highways for them to travel safely.
*Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets - these can get into the food chain and then in turn affect the hedgehogs who eat those insects. *If you have a pond or water feature, ensure that you have a log or rock on a slant so that a hedgehog can get in and out of the water should it accidentally fall in. *Consider building a hedgehog house. *Remember to keep sheds and garages secure so that wildlife like the hedgehog doesn't get stuck inside them, and
*Finally ensure that all of your drains and downspouts are sufficiently secure so that no hedgehogs can get in them and then trapped.
...and did you know:
Hedgehogs are insectivores- this means they get the majority of their energy from eating insects.
An adult hedgehog has approximately 5000 spines on its body!
Hedgehogs are Britain's only mammal to have a spiny coat.
Hedgehogs are most active at dusk and dawn and like to forage for insects throughout the night.
Hedgehogs roam up to 2km per night in search of food.
Items Required: A small ball of clay An autumn teasel or two - depending on how many you wish to make A couple of berries/pieces of gravel (for features) A sharp ended tool - eg a glue stick, a pencil etc Scissors A bowl of water - to help soften clay p and smooth with Recommended:
An apron &
A wipe clean surface to work on!
Whilst using this art resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing like this:
1) Get Active - For this activity you will need to get out and about to source your own autumnal teasels. Consider if your home surroundings or your garden is suitable for making hedgehog safe? Look up online how to build a hedgehog house safely and get active building one of those too!
2) Keep Learning - use this session to inspire learning about our prickly friends - you can start with the facts above but perhaps you can share some more facts that you learn with the community below.
3) Be Mindful- sit down and close your eyes and hold your teasel hedgehog and gently stroke the spikes - how do they feel under your fingers? Can you imagine what it might be like to have spikes on your back?
4) Practice Kindness- remember that our animal friends need our kindness too, they are in need largely due to how we have chosen to change their environment without them getting a say. Consider what you can do to help them now.
5) Think Community - Post your beautiful outcomes and share any tips in the comments below.
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