Here are some simple tips to help them.

1. Link your garden with a Hedgehog Highway. Hedgehogs travel between1-2 km a night searching for food and a mate. Leaving a small gap in your fence the size of a CD case will let hedgehogs through but be too small for pets. BHPT/PTES sell snazzy little recyclable Hedgehog Highway signs, for a few pounds. Ask your neighbours to do the same!

2. Create a wild corner in your garden so they can snuffle around for insects.

3. Tidy up netting and litter which can trap hedgehogs due to their spines. Even rubber bands dropped by the postie can become embedded in their skin, causing a slow, painful death.

4. Put out food and water. You can supplement their diet with wet dog or cat food (preferably not fish based). No bread, milk or mealworms, which are all extremely bad for them. For those who are into simple DIY you can make a feeding station to stop other animals having a free supper - details on the BHPS website/YouTube

5. Stop using chemicals especially slug pellets. Hedgehogs are a gardener’s best friend as they eat slugs as well as many other beasties which would otherwise be devouring your prize flowers and vegetables.​

Robert

A lady contacted our church and asked us if we could help in any way to save hedgehogs, by giving you advice for your garden and puting up an "awwwe" picture.

Isn't he gorgeous?                                                                          They are an endangered species so let's help them.

​​​

YOU?

                                                               Gnome report - March 2026

 

Hello again my fellow Worshippers. Already we’re looking at the                                          March Magazine and the approach of spring. Since my last update in the
December magazine there’s been a few issues and some of them
have, or will cost the Church significant sums of money.

First of all, the heating system in the Kitchen area, which supplies heat
via the radiators, to the Kitchen, the hallway, the toilets, the small hall and
the utility area off the large hall, was at its last service, deemed to be at the
end of its life of almost 20 years. So, the decision was taken to replace it.  

The next costly event was the heating system in the large hall, which is an
air sourced heat pump system, failed. The compressor failed, big time.
Again, this system is elderly, approximately 12 yrs old. After the
Engineer who services the system investigated, it was concluded the
cost effective way forward was for the unit to be replaced. This is currently
in the process of being attended to as I write this report.

One of the heating units in the Sanctuary, while it is still working, is very
noisy while in operation. The unit is used prior to services and then shut
down during services leaving the other units to maintain heat.
This heating issue will probably be the most costly issue to address
At some point in the future. All these issues are outwith the direct
control of the gnomes, but, the property convener (also the head garden
Gnome), would be involved in the arrangements for the repairs/replacement
of these units.

Now to the normal gnome activity. The problem with the raised flower bed I
mentioned in the December report - the rotten wooden surround, has now
been replaced with new wood now that the growing season is passed.
Indeed, the bulbs in the flower bed are now showing signs of new growth.
Bushes in the front and rear garden areas have been pruned or cut back,
Ready for the new growth this year. Preparations for applying the feed/weed
to the lawned areas is underway, and as usual, any donations anyone
would like to make towards the Gardens, whether with actual plants or
monetary, if you could speak with Colin (head garden gnome) and discuss
what would be best suited/needed. It is only through your support that the
gardens look as they do, and we get the positive comments of passersby.

The cross will need to be assessed, sanded and varnished as required
prior to being erected for the Easter commemorations.                                                                              The red filters will be placed over the outside flood lights for Easter.

The electricians will be visiting the Church to carry out the regulated PAT
Testing that must be done every year so that all hall users and anyone
attending the Church can do so in safety.
While all these issues are and have been dealt with, the usual things
are still going on, checking the clothing bank to ensure the Church gets the
maximum possible return from this. After the Christmas period, as things
were starting to return to normal, mould was noticed to be present in the
small vestibule on entry to the large hall. This was dealt with immediately
and will be repainted in due course. There will be other mundane regular
activities the gnomes get up to when no-one is looking that I may have
omitted.
As usual, if anyone wishes to join the gnomes, you can come along on any
Wednesday at 1pm and bring your skills with you. I can assure you
we’ll find something for you to do to help.                                                                                                      Two things are left for me to mention, first, is to offer a heartfelt thankyou from the gnomes to Graham Russell, he comes along with his chainsaws when we are putting up the Christmas tree in the garden. Over the past few years, he trimmed the trunk
of the tree so that it would fit into the holder in the ground that retains it in
place. Only once in all the years of there being a tree outside was there any
issue with it being blown down in a storm, and goodness knows, there have
been plenty of storms.  After the Christmas period, Graham then comes with his large vehicle and removes the tree along with any other awkward debris that is leftover.

Second, is for the gnomes to thank the Congregation for their monetary donation towards the Garden Gnomes Christmas meal at McQue’s. It was a very generous albeit
unnecessary gift, the gnomes do what we do not looking for reward, so, a massive "thankyou" to you all and to Graham and to the Congregational Board.
Until the next gnome report, many thanks to you all.

Phil Jordan. (Junior Gnome).         

Phil

George

The BOSS

Colin