Prickly post

A series of threatened British mammals are to star on new stamps to be issued by the Royal Mail next month – and stamp collectors are being offered the chance to buy first day issues at reduced prices.

The stamps, all First Class, show the otter, horseshoe bat, dormouse and the water vole, all species which have been near to extinction, and the hedgehog, whose numbers are in steep decline due to road casualties, slug pellets and gardeners’ tools like strimmers.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has linked with the Royal Mail to offer a first day cover, complete with the society’s unique postmark. Forty per cent of the cost will be donated to the BHPS. A limited number will be personally autographed by society patron, television presenter, writer & adventurer, Ben Fogle.

Fay Vass, chief executive of the society commented: “We were thrilled to hear that hedgehogs were to feature on a new stamp and decided to celebrate with this lovely first day cover. We are very grateful to Ben for taking the time to sign some of them for which we received a generous donation from Buckingham Covers.”

The covers cost £11.95 unsigned, or £22.95 signed by Ben Fogle. See www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk for details.