Latest news with #BHPS
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs': new campaign urges gardeners to create wild patches for hedgehogs
This July, gardeners, families and individuals are being urged to create wild patches as part of a new campaign to make more spaces with natural insect food and nesting materials for native hedgehogs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new 'Go WILD for Hedgehogs' campaign from Hedgehog Street – run by wildlife charities People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) – simply involves leaving a wild, undisturbed patch in a garden and recording its location online. Not only does this create much-needed food and shelter for hedgehogs, but also tells conservationists at PTES and BHPS where hedgehog havens are, and where more are needed. The campaign begins this summer when people in all corners of the UK are asked to choose a patch, strip or corner of their garden to leave undisturbed, untrimmed, and simply let it grow. Once selected, you will then just need to upload photos and record the location online. To go the extra mile, Hedgehog Street suggests planting wildflower seeds in autumn to further attract pollinators and other insects the following year. Throughout the year Hedgehog Street will share updates and top tips such as how to maximise wild patches, what to look out for and other ways to help hedgehogs as the seasons change. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street said: 'Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, 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.' A wild patch for hedgehogs and wildlife. 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 30-75% since 2000. Yet 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. Then, connect this amazing new habitat by popping 13cm x 13cm square holes (known as 'Hedgehog Highways') in or under garden fences to allow hedgehogs to move 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; contact 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. Becoming a volunteer 'spotter' for PTES and BHPS' National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which can be done from your own home, is a great way to help too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more and to register your wild patch, visit And, if you're on social media, BHPS and PTES would love to see your wild patch pictures using #GoWildForHedgehogs
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wicksteed Park hedgehog charter launched ahead of nature festival
A charter to safeguard hedgehogs at a park has been introduced ahead of a new nature festival dedicated to the understanding and protection of wildlife Hedgehog Charter was developed by Wicksteed Park and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and commits to actions aimed at reversing the steep decline in populations across the of the measures being taken at the Northamptonshire site include ramps being installed along the lake's edges to help the animals escape Vass, chief executive of BHPS, said she was "delighted that Wicksteed Park has launched a Hedgehog Charter", which "highlights an important commitment to protecting our native wild hedgehogs". The animals live in a variety of habitats including woodland, farmland, parks and gardens, but can also thrive in urban to the latest State of Britain's Hedgehogs report, between 30% and 75% of the population has been lost in rural areas in the last 20 drop in numbers varies between regions, but the largest falls are in the eastern half of England. 'Vital role' The charter pledges to enhance natural habitats, reduce chemical use and monitor hedgehog activity across the park in stickers will be placed in all areas storing equipment to remind staff to look out for the animals when tending the grounds. Also, ramps will be installed around the lake to help hedgehogs and other animals escape when entering the Richardson, Wicksteed Park's director, said hedgehogs played "a vital role within our ecosystems".The first Festival of Nature, run by Kettering Nature Group, is taking place at the park on Saturday. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cat's Life: Cumbrians urged to create garden havens as Hedgehog Awareness Week begins
Gardeners across Cumbria are being encouraged to turn their outdoor spaces into safe havens for one of Britain's most cherished wild animals, as Hedgehog Awareness Week gets underway. The annual campaign, which began on Sunday, May 4, is run by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and highlights challenges hedgehogs face, while offering practical ways the public can help protect them. Hedgehogs have seen a drastic population decline of around 75 percent in the last two decades, largely due to the destruction of their natural habitat through urban expansion, new developments and changes to garden layouts. Despite the worrying national trend, Cumbria has historically shown strong signs of support for its prickly residents. ADVERTISEMENT In 2016, Kendal was recognised as the most 'hedgehog friendly' townNow, homeowners are being called on to build on that legacy. a trusted platform connecting people with skilled tradespeople, has launched a campaign encouraging people to make their gardens more welcoming to hedgehogs. A step-by-step guide has been created by gardening experts, providing practical advice on how to make small but significant changes. 'hedgehog-friendly guide' (Image: Tips to create a home 'fit for a hog' Leave some areas wild Wild areas provide a natural food source and a place of nesting. Allowing dense plants, such as nettles, to grow will provide shelter for your hedgehogs throughout the months. You could even consider creating a 'meadow edge' of wildflowers, which looks attractive while serving an ecological purpose. ADVERTISEMENT Avoid using pesticides or slug pellets Slug pellets are really harmful to hedgehogs so avoid using them. Hedgehogs eat slugs, so even if they don't get to the pellets themselves, if they eat a slug that has, it can poison them. There are many natural ways to deter pests in your garden which include 'Beer traps' (bowls of beer sunk in the ground) or sprinkling coffee grounds round the base of plants. Check your garden before mowing You could embrace No Mow May - but if mowing your lawn, check any areas of long grass before going ahead as hedgehogs love it. Walk your lawn, mow slowly and give hedgehogs a chance to hear the mower. Build a hedgehog home Hedgehog houses are quick and easy to make and all you need is a few bits of timber, a hammer, and some nails. The entrance to the home should be around 13cm x 13cm, with a total space of 25cm high and 35cm x 35cm inside. ADVERTISEMENT Never paint the inside of your hedgehog house and avoid putting food inside it. Cover drains Uncovered drains can be a hazard for hedgehogs and they can easily fall in. Cover them using a specific 'manhole cover' used for drains, or using a water-filled bag on a more temporary basis. Leave constant access Hedgehogs are nocturnal and roam around 1-2km every night, so they will appreciate having a wide range of outdoor areas they can explore. Cut out a 13cmx13cm hole at the bottom of your fence. Alternatively, you can dig a channel underneath your fence if you don't want to put a hole through it. To really help wildlife, consider replacing a fence with a hedge to allow easy access and provide shelter. Consider losing a panel if you live in a new build New-build homes have had problems with fences being built too tight together, which can prevent hedgehogs from accessing your garden. To mitigate this issue, consider losing a panel or two at the side of your fence. ADVERTISEMENT James Lewis, a gardening expert from (Image: Sharon Jacobs, a senior nurse at Tigglywinkle's Wildlife Hospital said: "This guide provides great basic steps for British gardeners to take to really create an area that is supportive to the safety and health of hedgehogs. "On top of this, we would urge gardeners to take care when mowing, strimming, or hedgecutting. We see thousands of injuries from this sort of activity every year, and it can be easily avoided by checking the areas you are working on before starting.' To support the campaign, locals can join the conversation using #CumbriaHedgehogs and access the full guide at:
