Today, we got to try out some advice from [Bexhill and Hastings Wildlife Rescue](https://www.facebook.com/Bexhill.And.Hastings.Wildlife.Rescue/) about how to save a snail with a cracked shell, as snails can mend their shells really well (as long as their body membranes aren't damaged) so they can go back to having trips on the blue grey humpback whale. ("The Snail and the Whale" by Julia Donaldson is a favourite book at the moment.)

This morning on the way to school my kids and I spotted a snail, with a damaged shell, so we put it in the leaves on side of pavement and my 3 year old and I decided we would pick it up if we could still see it on the way home, which we did.

http://www.dailydifferencediary.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WP_20160623_08_52_21_Pro-300x169.jpg

We found a plastic container and put breathe holes in the lid and wetted a loo roll, spritzed some water in there to keep it damp and moist and added some lettuce and the snail hospital was almost ready.  You can see the damage to his shell below.

I popped down to the beach and successfully found a cuttlefish, which I rinsed the salt off and added to the snail hospital. Snails need the cuttlefish for calcium to help mend the shell. Snails do have some calcium reserves, so they can wait a little while for it to be added.

After observing the snail hospital, we have learnt that snails like to poo and hang upside down. Maybe they have some stray bat genes or something.

On the way home, my eldest daughter was checking every snail to see if their shells were broken, she found one.

So now we have two snails in the hospital.

Every animal is unique and an individual, even a snail. And it is great to be able to save some, even just two.

Made a difference to those two! 

Bush and Concrete were ready for release today as their shells had healed. Hazel called the snails that we rescued those names as that's where we found them.

http://www.dailydifferencediary.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WP_20160625_18_31_52_Pro-300x169.jpg

So after they had a good rest througout the day and a good munch of lettuce and outside was just a little cooler, it was time to let them go.

We only had them a few days, but Hazel and Poppy were a little sad to see them go.

I had to explain that it would be far more interesting for them to live amongst the flowers and with other snails, than staring at our faces through the plastic containing and us marvelling at how much a snail poos.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2BMaIxihZYY

So as they were hanging upside down on the plastic lid, which they did a lot of the time, we turned it over and placed the lid on the wall and carefully assisted them into the forest of flowers.

FREEDOM! As I say at the end of the video!

We made a difference to a couple of snails. It really reminded me of the starfish story.

And taught two young girls the importance of caring for nature. And two lovely girls they are.