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Sustainable Shakespeare - Shakespeare’s Hedgehog-friendly Family Homes

Andrew Anderson

In Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth, the Witches note that “Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined”. Well, back in October 2021, a very happy hedgehog called Freddie moved into one of our sites – and he didn’t whine at all.

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined

— Macbeth, Act 4 Scene 1

On Friday 22nd October, the team from Hedgehog Friendly Town released Freddie into the fields around Mary Arden’s Farm in Wilmcote. Freddie had been discovered on the site by a young visitor to one of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's Family Fun Days the previous August and was underweight and very unwell when he was found but, thanks to the expert care of the team, he was soon fighting fit and ready for life in the great outdoors.

An image of Sophie and Kyra from Hedgehog friendly town, releasing a hedgehog at Mary Arden's Farm.
Pictured, from left to right, Mark Wyles from the Mary Arden’s Farm Team, Sophie Smith and Kyra Barboutis from Hedgehog Friendly Town

We have been working with Hedgehog Friendly Town for many years, providing release sites for hogs after their stay in hogstable. We hope we will continue working with them and supporting their release programme for many years to come. More information about their work can be found at hedgehogfriendlytown.co.uk.


To find out more about how the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is becoming more sustainable and encouraging biodiversity at Shakespeare's Family Homes visit our Sustainable Shakespeare page.