Millie the Fox

Hello again.

I promised an up-to-date picture of Dodo, but every time Rossi has fed him today, I've been busy doing something else, and forgot to get the picture, until Dodo was fast asleep in his bed tonight. I'll try harder tomorrow!

No sound from Millie at the hedgehog's nest, but that is a good sign, so we'll be patient and keep waiting.

Our friend Beth from the Hartland Wildlife Rescue has a pet fox (one which was rescued) and she is called Millie. I thought you would all like to share this lovely picture.

Work still continues at the CFZ, preparing for the start of the Weird Weekend which kicks off with a Cocktail Party tomorrow night. For more information on the Weird Weekend visit www.cfz.org.uk or simply type Weird Weekend into Google and all will be revealed.

More news tomorrow.

Millie's new hoglets!!

Yes, Millie is a Mum again! Frantic collecting of hay etc. on Sunday and today Millie definately has baby hoglets, but we shall not disturb them, we will wait and see how things progress. We will keep you posted.

We are really busy here at Hill Top. The shippen conversion is going well. Roof completely off and new floor well on its way etc.

We had a real surprise today as cousin Eva from Evesham called in to say hello. The boys were keen for her to try out the new woodland play area and as you can see, she's a dab hand at the monkey bars! She also met all the animals, including our redfoot tortoise.

Everyone at the CFZ is working really hard preparing for the Weird Weekend. Dave, Ross & Greg are all at Jon's this afternoon helping. The annual Weird Weekend starts this Friday - it is an event you should not miss!

Dodo is really growing and doing so well. We will post a new picture up tomorrow.

Bye for now.

Curly Carrots!

Hi everyone!

Following our last blog (and apologies for the delay in writing), Angel the baby pigeon died today. It's always an ongoing battle with the wildlife, but the boys keep the animals warm and fed and persevere to give them the best chance. Angel had done so well this last week but yesterday went very quiet and sadly she died today. However, Dodo is doing really well - his feathers are coming now and we'll post another picture in a few days.

Greg has grown some carrots of his own from seed this summer and at the weekend he pulled them up. Greg wanted you to see his curly carrot!

Work has started on our new holiday let - once a shippen, at the rear of Walland Farm. As you can see all the boys (only two pictured here) are helping Roy. The roof and floor have been totally demolished in a few days.

Greg says a special message for his cousin Eva in Evesham: - "The carrot isn't as nice tasting as the maltesers at Christmas Mrs.Santa!"

Watch out for another update tomorrow. Thank you for reading.

New Addition at Hill Top

Hello everyone!

Sadness on Saturday as our last surving hoglet named Angel died. The boys had done everything they could to save her, but it was not meant to be.

On a happier note, Beth of the Hartland Wildlife rescue rang yesterday to say that she had another rescue baby pigeon, about 2-3 weeks old (older than Dodo), and would the boys like to look after this one too! Well, they are thrilled with the new edition, who they have named Angel (after their little hoglet).

Angel loves to sit on Rossi's finger and both she and Dodo are really doing well. Angel is pictured above and Dodo below.

It's fascinating to watch how Dodo is turning into a lovely pigeon - we keep thinking of the Ugly Duckling story! When they go into their nice warm box, they cuddle up together, it's really lovely to think we're helping these little creatures.

The Weird Weekend is getting closer. It's set to be another great weekend for all.

More news tomorrow.

DoDo

Hello. Today has brought sadness and happiness to Hill Top. This morning the boys were up at the crack of dawn feeding the hoglets. They were both girls and were named Lucky and Angel. They have fed really well during the day, but this evening Lucky began jumping, almost like fitting, and then sadly she died at about 9pm. Angel fed again tonight, but these first few days are the most difficult and we just pray that Angel will survive.

On a different note, Roy came home from work with a baby pigeon that someone had given to him. He was rejected from the nest and had been rescued by some children.

He is really small and at first glance he looked like a duck, but Beth confirmed that it is a baby pigeon. He is feeding really well and is kept with the hoglet in a warm box by the aga. Ross and Greg have called him DoDo!

I don't know if you remember the story of the seal spotted off Lundy Island on my blog of the 18th of June - we were appealing for help. Apparently this picture is now on the front page of today's North Devon Journal. I haven't seen it yet, but let's hope someone can help free him from the fishing net.

More great updates tomorrow. Goodnight from everyone at Hill Top.

Millie's Hoglets!

Hello everyone.

Early evening, around 6pm there were horrible, loud, hissing noises coming from the hedgehog nest. A hedgehog had been seen out late this afternoon collecting hay etc. but had gone back into the nest. We took the lid off and realised that Millie had given birth to three hoglets. One was already half eaten by one of the males and the others were being attacked. We managed to rescue two - both having been bitten. In the past we had put the pregnant mum in a separate cage to have her babies, but this time there had been no time. It was a case of leaving them in the nest, where they would undoubtedly have been eaten (as one of them had already been) or rescuing them and hand rearing them. We chose the latter.

The hoglets were very cold and Ross and Greg have been holding them to keep them warm this evening. They have just now had their second feed tonight. They have warmed up beautifully and are currently in a cardboard box, in a lovely soft warm bed, beside the aga. It seems we have two girls.

Ross and Greg are thinking of names and will let you know tomorrow. We shall continue with regular feeds and hope they make it through the night, as they were very cold and in shock.

There's never a dull moment here at Hill Top. More Tails tomorrow.

Goodnight!

Woodland Playground

Hello again. We thought you might like to see the completed woodland playground.

This is just where the moth trapping took place last week with Jon and Max from the CFZ.

Today the weather has been brighter and we are still really busy.

Today Ross and Greg have been moving Scratchy (the Russian Dwarf Hamster or Winter White as they are known) to a much bigger cage, so now Scratchy thinks he's living in a castle, with lots of rooms!!