The first Hedgehog Festival Day on Sunday, September 17th was a great success. A lot of families turned out to enjoy the storytelling, discovering more about wildlife and browsing stalls.

A West Midlands author, Robert A. Brown, read his newly published children’s book, William the Hedgehog Boy at the Family Fun Day on Sunday.

Robert’s book focuses around William, a lonely, young schoolboy with a quick temper. When he comes across a group of boys hurling sticks at a defenceless hedgehog, he bravely chases them off and takes the injured animal to the vets. After nursing the hedgehog, who he names Lucky, back to health, William is heartbroken when the vet explains that he must release her back into the wild.

William the Hedgehog Boy also contains a useful section with information about how to protect hedgehogs. Through the story, Robert hopes to inform young readers about the dangers faced by hedgehogs, especially on Bonfire Night when they like to make their dens in bonfires in readiness for hibernation.