Giant hogs limelight as Sir David returns to TV

The giant hedgehog emerged from two months of hibernation at a workshop – where a team of sculptors crafted him from 2,000 soft wood spikes and fake fur consisting of a willow and coconut fibre-mix – to help Sir David launch his new series, Natural Curiosities.

The wildlife expert described the giant hedgehog, as it was unveiled at Clapham Common in south London, as “a fitting tribute to one of our most delightful species”.

Some 74 per cent of people are concerned about the dwindling numbers of hedgehogs and believe more should be done to protect them, according to a survey commissioned by UKTV channel Watch. It also found that 25 per cent of Britons said they had never seen a hedgehog in the wild.

“The fact that a quarter of British adults have never seen a wild hedgehog suggests that we are witnessing rapidly dwindling numbers which is a concern,” Sir David said.

In the new show – aired on Watch on Tuesdays at 8pm from today – Sir David shares the stories of extraordinary creatures and reveals why he considers them to be nature’s curiosities.