People's Walk For Wildlife

  September 22nd 2018, a date to remember.On this day 10,000 people from all ages and all walks of life congregated in Hyde Park, London in support of an inspirational idea.An event conceived by conservationist and TV presenter Chris Packham in an attempt to stop the War on Wildlife.
  Build it and they will come, and despite the rain, we did, in our thousands.
A day that brought together numerous NGOs, conservationists and celebrities and would end with the first draft of the People's Manifesto For Wildlife being delivered to 10 Downing Street.
  Peoples Manifesto For Wildlife(link at end of blog to download, read and print your own copy)

  We arrived in Hyde Park early when only a few people were just starting to mill around.Mike Dilger was the first person we bumped into and as he went off to do a podcast we spotted Charlotte Corney.It wasn't long before the NGOs started arriving, setting up stands and the crowd began to swell as the rain commenced.
  Some of the NGO stands being set up.

  The crowd starting to increase.

  Meeting up with other wildlife loving friends.
With Karen Elizabeth and Jo who is hiding behind the camera.

  Before the main stage events some amazing young people were interviewed by Lucy Cooke as to why they were there and why was it so important to them to save our wildlife.Among them was Rebecca from Rebecca's Butterfly Farm.I'm not too embarrassed to admit that some of those youngsters were more articulate than myself ;) Lucy also spoke with one of the leading environmentalists Tony Jupiter.After a bit of wordplay with Mike Dilger and Rob McFarlane, Chris arrived on stage to address the already slightly damp ten thousand.
  Lucy Cooke with Tony Jupiter

  Mike Dilger & Rob McFarlane

  Video clip No.1 starting with Chris addressing the sodden ten thousand and introducing Billy Bragg and Grace Petrie.

  Video clip No.2 with Chris, Ecologist Derek Gow talking about rewilding, Beavers and Water Voles and author Dr. Rob McFarlane speaking about getting Nature back into Education.

  Video clip No.3 with more from Chris, 16yr old environmentalist Mya-Rose Craig talking about visible minority ethnic(VME) people being given more opportunities to engage with Nature and Dr. Amy-Jane Beer telling us about social inclusion and working together for the sake of Wildlife.

  Video clip No.4 with Ruth Tingay speaking about Wildlife Crime and Dominic Dyer about the Badger Cull and shooting of Scottish Seals to protect Fish farms.

  Video clip No.5 begins with a heartrending rendition of "What A Wonderful World" by Scottish singer Saskia Eng and followed by some of the most inspirational young conservationists in the UK, Dara McNulty, Georgia Locock, Bella Lack and not forgetting 11yr old Findlay who was sacked for standing up for Sharks against Bear Grylls.

     

  The event was ended with Billy Bragg singing "Where have all the flowers gone?" which had quite a few of the sodden ten thousand in tears.

https://www.facebook.com/sally.stewart.3766952/videos/2167248573555294/?t=1107

  It was time to leave Hyde Park and head through the city to Downing Street.

  We walked along with Chris for a bit in Hyde Park til he was ushered forward to head the 10,000 strong procession on to the roads of London.

  The crowd filtering out of Hyde Park.

  A peaceful march to show our Love for our Wildlife with the beautiful Nightingale birdsong emanating from thousands of mobile phones with banners raised high.

  Kate Stephenson with her fantastic sign.

https://kateonconservation.com/wildlife-blog-home/

  Traffic was halted as the Police safely ushered us along, horns were tooted and cheers were returned from the Wildlife loving parade.We stretched the length of Pall Mall and beyond.

  We were by now somewhere around the middle of the massive wave of people and so by the time we reached Richmond Terrace, Chris, Mark Avery and George Monbiot had already spoken.However we were able to watch as Chris and the six young conservationists crossed over to gain access to Downing Street and hand over the Peoples Manifesto For Wildlife to Sir John Randall.

  Outside Downing Street with Wildlife heroes and friends, Sally Stewart, Peter Egan and my partner Majella Fox.

  Chris, after delivering the Manifesto to end the War on Wildlife.

  The crowd slowly dispersed, (some of us into nearby pubs) but with renewed hope that together we still have time to save our wildlife and even bring back into the UK some of what was already lost.Surely the government cannot continue to ignore the voices of reason and must start to implement the proposals from the Manifesto.

Download and read the Manifesto here..

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/a-peoples-manifesto-for-wildlife

  

A massive, massive Thank You to Chris and his team for imagining and organising such a colossal event, one that we were so very proud to be a part of.

Thank you for reading and please join and support these events if possible.

  

A Historic Day For Lincolnshire Hedgehogs

  It has been a few months since I blogged but a very special day occurred this week which needed blogging about.

  It was 1993 when two prickly characters were given to a local animal loving "mad" couple and so began Frank and Veronica Tett's emotional and wonderfully caring journey to help save our British Hedgehogs.

  For more than two decades , along with a dedicated group of volunteers they have rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of Hedgehogs.

  A few years after those first two visitors, a certain charismatic individual arrived at the rescue centre in need of help.He became known as Andrew.After some medical treatments and veterinary visits it became clear that Andrew was blind.If released back into the wild, his chances of survival would have been virtually zero so he became a permanent resident, founder of Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital and ambassador for Hedgehogs.

  Andrew's is now a registered charity and having to help more Hogs than ever before(currently around 150 at the hospital with many more being over-Wintered by volunteers).

  This has all been done from Frank and Ronnie's property, which brings us to this weeks Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital Ground Breaking Day.November 30th, chosen as it is St.Andrew's Day and coincidentally Ronnie's birthday.Their vision had always been to have an all purpose Hedgehog hospital built and thanks to Elsham Hall Country Park near Brigg that dream is a step closer to becoming a reality.The architectural plans of the new carbon-neutral hospital have been completed and an acre of land donated and so on Thursday with the help of Clare and Tiggy Elwes, Frank and Ronnie were able to watch proudly as the foundation stone was laid.

  The new site of the carbon-neutral, all purpose Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital.

From left to right.

Frank Tett, Tiggy and Clare Elwes, Ronnie Tett and Andrew's Administrator Vee Harness

  We were honoured to be part of such an important day and even the blizzards couldn't dampen the excitement.The view from the new hospital site.

  VIP's and volunteers warmed up in the barn with mulled wine as Frank gave a short speech before once again being interviewed by the local TV news team.

  Frank, Ronnie & Tiggy warming up while enjoying the snow scene.

  Ronnie, with the aid of Clare and Tiggy then cut the cake.Very nice it was too :)

  Hoggie items were available for purchase as well as the new "Buy A Brick" campaign to help fund the build(see end of blog for details).

  Even during such a momentous and historic day, Hedgehog care was still at the forefront of everyone's thoughts and so when the awesome Jo got a call of a young Hog needing help immediate action was taken.A kind member of the public had rescued a juvenile from swerving traffic on the snow covered road in Scunthorpe.She had kept him warm in a blanket and box but was unable to drive in the snow to bring him to the rescue centre.Majella and myself then offered to go fetch the vulnerable Hedgehog and then was able to drop him off into the care of qualified volunteer Kath to assess.He weighed just under 300g so would've struggled to make it through the cold Winter months.He is now safe in the warmth and care of Kath and will be kept fed and monitored and released in the Spring.

  The building of this eco-friendly hospital will have such a positive impact on how many more Hedgehogs can be saved and released back into the wild to help the dwindling population of the Nation's most loved mammal.

  In the meantime help is always needed at the rescue centre.Ferplast Hamster cages, fleecy blankets, Spikes Hedgehog food, meaty Cat food, Burgess Kitten biscuits, newspapers are all constantly required, along with financial donations.

Please contact the hospital(on their website or Facebook page) if you are able to help. :) 

http://www.andrewshedgehoghospital.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewsHedgehogHospital/ 

  Also check out the "Buy A Brick" campaign.

It's £5 a brick or for just £10 have your name immortalised on the brick and become part of the new Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital.

http://www.andrewshedgehoghospital.org.uk/andrews-hedgehog-hospital-buy-a-brick

  Thank you for reading and to everyone who works so hard to save and protect our British Wildlife.You are all #wildlifeheroes :)