Hedgehogs, Highways, and Kindness to Animals

I saw an Instagram reel this morning about hedgehog highways in the UK, and it immediately took me back to my childhood.

When I was growing up, hedgehogs were a normal part of life. We saw them regularly in gardens and on quiet streets. They would sometimes come and eat the cat food we left outside. Nobody minded too much — they were simply too cute. The cats, on the other hand, might have had a different opinion.

One memory in particular still makes me smile. Years ago, my wife and I were cycling home one evening when we saw what I think was a mother hedgehog and three tiny babies right in the middle of the cycle path. I got off my bike and made a few gentle “shoo, shoo” noises, trying to encourage them to move.

My wife looked at me rather dismissively — until the hedgehogs actually stood up and walked exactly in the direction I had indicated. Her expression changed instantly from doubt to genuine amazement.

From that day on, she has been quietly convinced that Englishmen can speak hedgehog.

So when I heard recently that people across the UK are now cutting small holes in their garden fences so hedgehogs can travel safely from garden to garden, I felt strangely proud. It struck me as a very British solution to a modern problem — quiet, practical, and rooted in kindness to animals.

Small holes in fences. Big difference for a small creature.

Language Support

Vocabulary worth checking

dismissively
In a way that shows doubt, lack of respect, or not taking something seriously.
Example: She looked at him dismissively, but then changed her mind.

indicated
Pointed out or showed something clearly.
Example: He indicated the direction they should go.

amazement
A strong feeling of surprise, often positive.
Example: Her face changed from doubt to amazement.

rooted in
Based deeply on something; coming from a strong belief or value.
Example: His actions are rooted in kindness.

creature
A general, often affectionate word for an animal.
Example: A small creature crossed the path.

Phrasal verbs worth knowing

take someone back
To make someone remember the past.
Example: That video really took me back to my childhood.

move away
To leave a place, often gently or slowly.
Example: The hedgehogs moved away into the bushes.

Useful collocations

a very British solution
A natural way to describe something typically British in style or attitude.
Example: Queuing politely is often seen as a very British solution to crowding.

a modern problem
A problem that comes from contemporary life.
Example: Urban wildlife loss is a modern problem.

kindness to animals
A natural phrase to describe caring behaviour toward animals.
Example: Teaching children kindness to animals is important.