Wrexham residents are being encouraged to install hedgehog houses and hedgehog highways in their gardens in aid of hedgehog conservation.
The Hedgehog Conservation Project is being funded by Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature grant scheme which is all about increasing biodiversity and connecting people with nature.
Hedgehog numbers have declined by up to 75% due to a variety of threats which are having a detrimental effect on the population. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are two of the biggest problems, but the good news is that you can help at home!
Can you offer a hedgehog a safe place in your garden to rest, breed and hibernate? If you want to help you can apply for a free hedgehog housing kit which includes:
- a hedgehog house (designed to keep your hedgehog visitors dry and safe from predators, with a hinged roof for ease of cleaning)
- a hedgehog highway
- a food, feed dish
- information leaflets
How will this help?
Did you know that, even with little legs, hedgehogs travel up to one mile every night? Many gardens have no small gaps in their perimeter fence or wall, meaning that hedgehogs can’t visit.
Habitat fragmentation is when animals can’t travel between suitable habitat patches, which reduces their ability to access important resources. With many non-accessible gardens, hedgehogs are unable to reach vital resources like food, water, shelter and finding a mate.
By installing a hedgehog highway into your garden fence, you will be helping to connect vital habitats for hedgehogs to move through on their night time explorations!
How can I take part?
To apply for a free hedgehog house kit or for more information on the project, please email LocalPlacesForNature@wrexham.gov.uk
The project requires you to provide a street name and postcode so that the hedgehog house and highway distribution can be recorded.
A photo will need to be sent in of your fully installed hedgehog house or highway to help track the success of the project. There’s also an opportunity to become a hedgehog ambassador, where you can win prizes for helping get more hedgehog homes and highways installed in your local area!
“Get involved and take action”
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Environment, said: “This is an important initiative that aims to protect and preserve our local hedgehog population. These charming creatures are facing significant challenges and the success of this project relies on community involvement. We encourage everyone to get involved and take action to safeguard these beloved creatures for future generations.”
