Life doesn’t always go to plan, and sometimes that’s perfect!

Life doesn’t always go to plan, and sometimes that’s perfect!

This evening didn't quite go to plan.

We were going to go and visit my Dad. Spend some time with him as my son cleaned the fish tank, a job he loves to do.

Then we were going to spend the evening at my friend's house, eating an Indian takeaway, and watching a film.

As is so often the case, life had other plans for me, and every single one of my plans was changed.

The reason for the change?

As we were walking back home after our short "couch to 5k" run, marcus spotted a hedgehog walking across the pavement in front of us.

A tiny….far too tiny hedgehog who had no business being on the pavement, or anywhere, at 5pm when it was still light.

I could see that it needed to be cared for, so I scooped it up in my jacket and carried it home.

After setting it up in a shoe box with a towel to hide under, some water and dog food, and a hot water bottle underneath, I spoke to the Hedgehog Helpline, who told me I needed to take him to one of their carers in Abergavenny, an hour's drive from home.

Happy to postpone my plans to help my new spiky little friend, I headed off to take him to hospital.

The verdict was that he (definitely a he now!) is seriously dehydrated, probably filled with worms and other harmful bacteria, and in dire need of feeding.

He will be cared for by the helpline volunteers until he is 750g, when he will return to me to live, and hopefully breed, in our garden.

We don't know if he is going to make it, we can only hope at the moment that he was found in time for his health to be restored.

Humanity's relentless destruction of the natural world will never cease to be anything other than insane to me. Not only are we hurting our fellow creatures like Hogwart Hoggle, but we are killing ourselves in the process.

I've long been despondent about my inability to make a difference to this reality. But if I've saved the life of one hedgehog today, I consider that a good day.

I've also applied to become a carer for hedgehogs, and will hopefully be able to start the training next year.

Fingers crossed, and please send happy healing thought to Hogwart Hoggle in Abergavenny in South Wales!