Tuesday 16th March 2021
Hugh Warwick
Hedgehogs – why we should worry, and what we can do
The nation’s favourite wild mammal, nature icon, animal – the hedgehog always tops the polls – is under threat. Startling population declines have been recorded. This illustrated talk will explore the reasons why the hedgehog has suffered so badly and explore some of the ways in which we can help.
Speaker – Hugh Warwick
Hugh Warwick is an ecologist and writer with a particular fondness for hedgehogs. The first of three books (so far!) about hedgehogs was, A Prickly Affair, and this remains unique for having accolades from both Jeanette Winterson and Ann Widdecombe on the cover. The second hedgehog book was called … Hedgehog, published in April 2014 by Reaktion Books. It is a monograph on the iconography of the hedgehog – niche, yes, but also full of fun and beautiful illustrations. Most recently, in September 2020, The Hedgehog Book – published by Graffeg. This looks at the hedgehog from both the scientific and the less scientific points of view – illustrated with oodles of gorgeous photographs.
In addition to writing, Hugh also does a lot of public speaking (from primary schools to postgraduate research groups via the WI and Wildlife Trusts). He runs day-long courses on hedgehog conservation and also lectures in creative writing. He is the spokesperson for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. Thanks to his singing-son he became the photographer for Magdalen College Choir – which has now resulted in him covering many different choirs in Oxford and Cambridge, as well as concerts, plays, weddings, and bar/bat mitzvah.