Do you remember seeing hedgehogs snuffling around the garden when you were a child? Have you seen one recently? According to research 95% of the hedgehog population has been lost since the 1950’s 😳.
Research by People’s Trust for Endangered Species shows that hedgehogs have declined by 30% in the last 10 years alone and there are now thought to be fewer than one million left in the UK.
They are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
IUCN Red List for British Mammals – vulnerable to extinction.
Hedgehogs need our help now 🦔🦔🦔
Even if you haven’t got a garden there is something very important you can do to help our spiky little friends so please keep reading.
There is a charity called ‘The British Hedgehog Preservation Society’. They are dedicated to providing the help our hedgehogs need through campaigns, advocacy and educational projects. Their comprehensive webpage provides all the information needed from providing a wildlife friendly garden, feeding, building a hedgehog home and providing first aid should you find a poorly hedgehog. They also have the details of local independent hedgehog rescue centres you can call.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society webpage can be found here.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society have kindly allowed me to reproduce some of their information. Please do check their webpage out as there is so much more information than I will be able to add here.
First things first. Create a hedgehog highway. 🦔🦔🦔
If you have a garden ensure you have a hole in the fence creating a hedgehog highway between you and your neighbours. If you don’t want to cut a hole in the fence then dig a channel underneath enabling the hedgehogs to wander. A 13cm square is needed for hedgehogs to get through. The average hedgehog roams about 2km per night.
You can register your hedgehog highway on Hedgehog Street. This wonderful initiative was launched in 2011, when wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species ( PTES ) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society ( BHPS ) joined forces to raise awareness and champion the humble hedgehog. Hedgehog Street is another wonderful webpage worth visiting. Not only can you become a Hedgehog Champion and register your hedgehog highway and sightings, you can view how many hedgehogs have been spotted in your area. There is plenty of advice on how you can help hedgehogs and you can even watch the Hedgehog Olympics!
Create a hedgehog home. 🦔🦔🦔
Hedgehogs normally hibernate between October/November and March/ April. If you are lucky enough to have hedgehogs visiting your garden why not provide a safe space for them to stay in your garden. They like to settle in a nest of leaves or logs. The Hedgehog Preservation Society have produced a leaflet on how to make a very simple home for hedgehogs which can be found here.
Supplement their food. 🦔🦔🦔
You can feed hedgehogs plain kitten biscuits or meat-based wet dog or cat food. It is very important that you do not feed them milk and bread as it may cause diarrhoea. Below are instructions on creating a simple feeding station the British Hedgehog Preservation Society have produced so your hedgehogs can dine in safety.
Finally how you can help even if you don’t have a garden. 🦔🦔🦔
You can take part in the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme. This is a joint initiative between the People’s Trust for Endangered Species ( PTES ) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society ( BHPS ), in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, Zoological Society of London, Mammal Web, London HogWatch and Durham University.
Wildlife cameras have been set up in many locations, volunteers are needed to watch the footage and identify the wildlife captured on film. Images from year 1 have been uploaded to mammalweb.org, and your help is needed to help classify the animals which can be seen in them. You just need to sign up for a MammalWeb account and select the NHMP project to classify.
Below is a video explaining how you can help.
You can also contact local parks and public space managers to make sure they are doing all they can to be hedgehog friendly or donate funds to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to help them continue their vital work.
Celebrating Seaford 