On Friday, September 29th, students at Walford Primary School enjoyed their annual ‘Hedgehog Day’ celebrations, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and their Hedgehog garden at the school.

In its third successful year of Hedgehog Day, pupils came to school with spiked ‘hedgehog’ hair, with a chance to win the competition for ‘best hair-do.’

They also brought in wonderfully decorated hedgehog cakes, made both by pupils and parents.

During the day, pupils learned about the hedgehog, how to protect them and to preserve their habitat, as well as taking part in special story-telling sessions.

This was aided by the hedgehog mascot, who paid a visit to the school classrooms on Friday.

The aim was to celebrate, educate and share the cultural aspects of hedgehogs, as an ancient icon and symbol of Ross-on-Wye.

The British wild mammal and its link to Ross seems to relate back 1500 years when the Celts invaded Ross and called the area ‘Ergyng’ which meant “Land of the Hedgehog.” This was changed in Saxon times to ‘Arkenfeld’ and later again to ‘Archenfield.’

Many examples of Ross’ connection to hedgehogs can be found in St, Mary’s Church, with least fourteen representations of hedgehogs on various crests and logos.