Hedgehogs revisited at Crawley Staying Well – this time with all the necessary body parts!
Wednesday 7 October 2026 | Crawley Staying Well
You might have thought that word would have spread about the surprisingly prickly business of making pompom hedgehogs. After all, our first attempt at Safe Haven’s Creative Wellbeing group had proved that these innocent-looking little creatures require rather more patience and perseverance than their fluffy appearance suggests.
But apparently, the warning had done nothing to dampen enthusiasm!
On Wednesday evening, the hedgehogs made a triumphant return, this time at Crawley Staying Well, where a fresh group of determined crafters was ready to tackle the challenge.
A hedgehog’s second chance
Armed with the wisdom gained from our first hedgehog adventure, and with a slightly smaller group, things went rather more smoothly second time around.
Techniques had been refined, lessons had been learnt and, most importantly, every single hedgehog emerged with both ears AND a full set of legs!
A considerable improvement on the previous generation of slightly anatomically challenged hogs.
Meanwhile, a couple of participants decided to branch out in a different creative direction, using natural materials to make their own imaginative models. These lovely creations provided the perfect woodland-inspired backdrop for displaying the finished hedgehogs.
The result was a delightful little collection of handmade wildlife, each with its own personality, surrounded by a touch of autumnal nature.
Techniques had been refined, lessons had been learnt and, most importantly, every single hedgehog emerged with both ears AND a full set of legs!
Small creations, big benefits
As with so many of our creative wellbeing activities, the real value wasn’t just in the finished hedgehogs.
It was in having a go, learning from earlier attempts, sharing ideas and enjoying a little laughter along the way. Creative activities offer opportunities to build confidence, practise patience and enjoy the simple pleasure of making something alongside other people.
And sometimes, success is simply a hedgehog with all four legs in approximately the right places!
Hedgehogs Are Going Up in the World!
And in a rather wonderful coincidence, just one day after our Crawley hedgehog workshop, the Bank of England announced on 8 October that hedgehogs have been chosen to feature on the next generation of UK banknotes!
Following a public consultation attracting nearly half a million responses, the humble hedgehog will join the barn owl, Atlantic puffin and buff-tailed bumblebee in celebrating Britain’s native wildlife.
So, while our little pompom hedgehogs might not be worth their weight in gold, it seems their real-life cousins are about to become rather valuable indeed!
Read the Bank of England announcement.
A little reminder about our real hedgehogs
While our handmade hedgehogs are thriving, sadly the same cannot be said for all their wild cousins.
Britain’s much-loved hedgehogs are classified as Vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain, with populations facing threats including habitat loss, road traffic and increasingly disconnected green spaces.
The good news is that there are simple ways we can help. Leaving a wild corner in the garden, making small gaps in fences so hedgehogs can travel between gardens, avoiding pesticides and checking carefully before lighting bonfires can all make a difference.
With autumn upon us, it’s a particularly good time to remember that piles of leaves, logs and garden debris can provide valuable shelter for wildlife preparing for winter.
To find out more about protecting Britain’s hedgehogs, visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
So, a successful second outing for our pompom prickles – and a lovely reminder that sometimes a little experience, a little encouragement and a second attempt can make all the difference.
And this time, not an ear or leg missing in sight!
