Why Patricia the hedgehog has vanished from a Truro roundabout

Drivers rounding Trafalgar Roundabout may have noticed a gap where one of Truro’s wooden hedgehogs usually sits. Her name is Patricia, she is one of the larger ones, and she has gone away for some careful attention.

Off to the depot

Patricia was temporarily removed last week from her spot facing Tregolls Road. She is now at Truro City Council‘s Boscawen Park depot, where her metal frame is being inspected after years of standing out in the Cornish weather. If the frame turns out to be unstable, Patricia will be rebuilt from the frame up.

Thousands of spines, harvested by hand

The refurbishment starts with hazel. Rods have been harvested from coppiced trees in Truro City Council parks by the Thursday volunteers of Truro’s Countryside Rangers, volunteers from Truro Prep School, and the Friends of Coosebean, with support from council staff.

So far they have cut more than 4,600 rods. Those are shaped into spines, and each hedgehog needs around 3,500 of them.

In the hands of a willow artist

The work itself will be carried out by Emma Scott at the Mellingey Mill Willow Craft Centre in St Issey. Each hedgehog is restored by hand, one at a time.

Patricia will go back to Trafalgar Roundabout once Emma has finished. There is no set date for her return, and the council says only that it looks forward to welcoming her home to the roundabout in the future.