RESIDENTS are being urged to protect hedgehogs, by supporting a campaign calling for fencing companies to manufacture hedgehog friendly fencing as an industry standard and to help encourage hedgehogs into your garden.
The campaign is launched by Hedgehog Street, a nationwide campaign by charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and is lobbying for garden fencing to be made with ready-made hedgehog highways, a small opening in the fence, enabling hedgehogs to freely roam.
The campaign is being backed by Melksham councillor Colin Goodhind. “This campaign is a great initiative and everything possible should be done to support it,” he said. “There are masses of hedgehog information on the internet and I would encourage people to look up or ask their digital assistant such as Alexa or Google for information on feeding and general welfare and preservation.
“Hedgehogs are a great indicator of the state of many aspects of our environment and contacting the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has got to be the starting point for directly supporting this campaign.”
Habitat fragmentation is one of the main issues affecting Britain’s hedgehogs but 13cm square gaps in fences known as Hedgehog Highways, could help to combat this.
Members of the public and Hedgehog Champions, a 120,000-strong group of passionate volunteers who have already pledged to help, are being urged to write to local and national fencing companies using free template letters provided by Hedgehog Street, requesting hedgehog friendly fencing options in their product ranges. This includes premade Hedgehog Highways in fences or gravel boards.
Companies who agree to join the campaign, will be showcased on Hedgehog Street’s website, celebrating those who have pledged to help.
Hedgehog officer for Hedgehog Street, Grace Johnson, said, “We really hope the nation will join us in the fight to save our native hedgehogs by asking local and national fencing manufacturers who aren’t already doing their bit to help. We understand it takes time to develop new products but if a company pledged their support at this stage, it would be a huge step forward for hedgehog conservation.”
To join the Hedgehog Friendly Fencing campaign and for free advice and top tips on how to help hedgehogs wherever you live, visit www.hedgehogstreet.org/hedgehog-friendly-fencing
