A giant mural of a hedgehog has appeared at the side Stratford Park Leisure Centre on the far right as you enter the main entrance. ‘Hugo’ has been created to mark Hedgehog Awareness Week (May 3rd-9th).
British hedgehogs are currently vulnerable to extinction and really need your help. There is a QR code on the mural itself that links you to help tips and information. This campaign was co-ordinated by Help A Hedgehog Hospital, which has been run by former Vet Nurse Annie Parfitt since 2008. Their mission is to increase hedgehog awareness in Stratford Park, Stroud and the surrounding five valleys.
Hedgehog Friendly Gardens
Create a Hedgehog Highway: Cut a 13cm x 13cm hole at the bottom of your fences to allow hedgehogs to forage and move between gardens. More info on Hedgehog Street
Install Pond Ramps: Use a plank of wood wrapped in chicken wire or a pile of stones to create a ramp to climb out of a pond. More info on SeagoMac Wildlife
Keep Drains Covered: Cover up all drains and gullies so hedgehogs don’t fall in and become trapped. More info on Grace the Hedgehog
Provide a Hedgehog House: Make or buy a hedgehog house so they can hibernate during the winter and nest during summer. Hedgehog houses can be made out of wood (Little Silver Hedgehog), bricks or even plastic storage boxes (Wildlife Gadget Man)
Feeding Hedgehogs
Provide Fresh Water: Leave out a shallow dish of water putting a ping pong ball in the water dish during winter to stop it from freezing.
Provide Food: Leave out cat food or specific hedgehog biscuits. Avoid mealworms, as they can cause disease. More info on Hedgehog Street
Maintain Hygiene: Clean feeding dishes daily to prevent the spread of Salmonella. More info on RSPCA
Hedgehog-Conscious Gardening
Stop Using Chemicals: Stop using slug pellets, pesticides, and herbicides, which poison hedgehogs and kill their food source. Use natural pesticides or, even better, let the Hedgehogs do the job for you. More info on Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Leave a “Wild Corner”: Allow an area to grow long grass and brambles to attract natural food sources like beetles. More info on Hedgehog Street
Create Log & Leaf Pile: Pile up logs and dead wood, fallen leaves to provide nesting materials. More info on Little Silver Hedgehog
Check Before Strimming: Check long grass or overgrown corners before cutting the lawn in case a hedgehog is hiding and avoid fatal injuries.
Lift Netting: Keep garden netting at least 30cm off the ground to prevent hedgehogs from becoming tangled.
Remove Hedgehog Hazards
Check Bonfires: Thoroughly check bonfires on the day you light them or move the pile to a new spot to ensure hedgehogs are not hiding inside. More info on Avon Wildlife Trust
Road Awareness: At night, slow down on residential and country roads to keep an eye out for Hedgehogs crossing. More info on Goring Parish Council Guidance
Safe Litter Disposal: Cut plastic multi-pack rings and ensure cans and yoghurt pots are crushed before recycling. More info on BHPS
Hedgehog Survival Facts
The following facts and figures highlight the severity of their decline:
Vulnerable to Extinction: In 2020, the hedgehog was officially added to the IUCN Red List, marking a critical turning point for the species.
97% Population Drop: UK numbers have plummeted from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to just 1 million today. State of Britain’s Hedgehogs (British Hedgehog Preservation Society / PTES)
Road Mortality: Between 167,000 and 335,000 hedgehogs are killed on British roads annually, making garden safety and connectivity even more essential.
For more information about this initiative or to donate to Help a Hedgehog Hospital
Annie: 07867 974 525 / enquiries@helpahedgehog.org Please click on the following link if you would like to donate
Pictures by Simon Pizzey
