When Mrs Tiggywinkle Becomes a Midnight Marauder
Did you know that a Scot was the inspiration for Mrs Tiggywinkle, the fictional hedgehog made famous by Beatrix Potter? The author had her own hedgehog and this animal was blended with the characteristics and character of her Scottish washer woman Kitty MacDonald who was in her 80s when Potter knew her. The hedgehog is a washerwoman like Kitty and a child Lucie comes to find her lost hankies and there they are all freshly laundered when she encounters Mrs Tiggywinkle. A gentle adventure ensues. And indeed the name was taken for a very successful wildlife hospital in the 1908s.
But hedgehogs are not popular with everyone at all - especially in the bird world. Now on the the islands of the Outer Hebrides they are regarded as a menace and due for removal and relocation, away from their predations on the nests of ground nesting birdlife. The European hedgehog isn’t native to the Hebrides you see and they are fond of nibbling the egss, which have led to the decline of numerous species in the islands. Some folks wanted to destroy the loveable hedgehogs in situ , but a massive public outcry soon put an end to that.
Now the idea is to round them up and release them again on the mainland where their nocturnal ramblings will do much less harm and they can just be one of the UK’s most charming creatures. A previous scheme saw the tiny beasties removed from North Uist, but funding deficiencies meant Benbecula and South Uist were still troubled by the tiny predators where their night-time marauding ensured a steep decline in bird numbers.
As you probably know we here at James Pirie are real enthusiasts for British wildlife and even have our own Wildlife Range and with Father’s Day almost in sight we think it’s worth a few clicks across our website to see what goodies we have to offer.
Take a look at the Royal Scot Crystal Kintyre Whisky Tumbler with a beautiful engraved STAG just happens to be on offer at the moment at half price and it comes in a smart presentation box with free delivery and free gift wrapping if you tick the box at check out.
https://www.jamespirie.com/2-kintyre-whisky-tumblers-engraved-stag-presentation-boxed-new.html
Or if you want to personalise your gift, and who wouldn’t want to, then we have something special? You can have this hand cut tumbler which features a plain panel ready for your personal inscription. Whether it's a name, a special date, or a heartfelt message, this tumbler is a unique way to show someone you care. PLEASE ALLOW 10-14 WORKING DAYS FOR PERSONALISED ITEMS. And it comes in a gift box, with free delivery and free gift wrapping if you tick the box at check out. I always recommend writing the inscription in Word first, checking it and then pasting it into the instruction box on the website. It's also on a half price. Just the ticket!
