A NEW campaign is urging those with a love for gardening to create a much-needed natural space for native hedgehogs, writes Rafi Khan.
As part of ‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs’, gardeners and householders are being encouraged to create an area for much-needed natural insect prey and nesting materials for the prickly creatures.
The drive, which begins this month, is being led by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS).
The two prominent charities are determined to protect hedgehogs due to their population declining and them being listed as ‘near threatened’ on the The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
Leaving a wild, undisturbed patch in a garden and recording its location online not only creates much needed food and shelter, it also tells conservationists at PTES and BHPS where hedgehog havens are and where more are needed.
On top of creating wild patches, Hedgehog Street suggests that – to go the extra mile – people should plant wildflower seeds in autumn (September to November) to further attract pollinators and other insects the following year.
This heavily benefits the near threatened mammals as it provides a crucial food source and habitat by creating a thriving ecosystem.
Hedgehog Street would like to share updates and helpful top tips, such as how to maximise the nutritional wild patches, what to look out for and ways to help Hedgehogs within season changes.
Grace Johnson, an officer of the wild for Hedgehog Street said: “Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, they’re minimal effort and cost.”
“By simply allowing an area to grow a little wild and undisturbed, you can help to create a diverse habitat that’s perfect for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife in the heart of our villages, towns and cities.
“Instead of weeding and mowing, sit back, relax and watch nature thrive in your garden.”
Under threat
Hedgehogs face many threats and are in widespread decline.
According to the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report, published by BHPS and PTES, rural populations have plummeted by between 30 to 75 per cent since 2000.
But, encouragingly, the report also showed that populations in urban areas may be starting to recover, likely thanks to Hedgehog Street’s 130,000 volunteer Hedgehog Champions and the wider public who continue to make their gardens and local green spaces more hedgehog friendly.
The new ‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs’ campaign builds on this as gardens, and especially wild patches, can offer important refuges for hedgehogs and can help reverse the decline that this much-loved nocturnal species is facing.
Extra ways to turn any garden into a hedgehog haven include providing compost heaps and log and leaf piles to further encourage natural insect prey and offer places to nest, leaving out shallow dishes of water, and/or creating a wildlife pond with sloping sides or an escape ramp.
‘Hedgehog highways’ are also encouraged – this sees people cut a 13cm x 13cm square hole into fences on each side of their garden to enable hedgehogs to roam between green spaces in search of food, shelter and mates. Special ‘Hedgehog Highway’ signs can be bought from BHPS or PTES to tell neighbours and any future homeowners why the highway is there, and why it needs to remain open.
Those without a garden can still help hedgehogs too – by contacting local councils and developers to highlight the importance of managing parks and public green spaces for hedgehogs, call for new-build sites to be hedgehog friendly and raise awareness of the urgent need to help hedgehogs by sharing PTES and BHPS’ social media posts and talking with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about ways they can help hedgehogs.
And people can become a volunteer ‘spotter’ for PTES and BHPS’ National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which can be done from people’s own homes, is a great way to help too.
Visit: hedgehogstreet.org/go-wild-for-hedgehogs for more on the campaign and to register a wild patch.
