How will we do that?
Like The British Hedgehog Preservation Trust, hedghogs4Hailsham are asking people in Hailsham and surrounding areas to “Welcome Wildlife!” by creating space for wildlife in their own gardens and green spaces.
There are lots of lovely wildlife-friendly features that can be added (and hazards that can be avoided) to make an area especially welcoming to hedgehogs and in turn other wildlife.
Hedgehog highways allow vital access to more habitat; Hedgehogs need 13cm x 13cm square gaps in the bottom of boundary walls and fences ensure hedgehogs can get in and out easily. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, ENCLOSED FENCES ARE TRAPPING HEDGEHOGS WITH INSUFFICIENT FOOD AND ACCESS TO MATES.- Log piles, leaf piles, wild corners and edges will attract natural food and offer shelter for hedgehogs.
- Water is vital for all wildlife and can be scarce, especially during hot spells. Make sure there are always several clean shallow bowls of water in the garden for hedgehogs – pop a few pebbles in so that bees and butterflies can safely take a drink too.
- Ponds or pools are great for wildlife but do ensure there are escape routes – a sloping edge, ramp or half-submerged rock for hedgehogs to scramble out on.
- Stop using poisons and pesticides that could directly harm wildlife and destroy the food chain.
- Litter is a problem for wildlife and while this is unlikely to be an issue in your own garden, it very likely is in the wider environment. Support Wealden Wombles and pick up litter as you go. Not littering around Hailsham goes without saying.
- Netting can become entangled in hedgehog spines: make sure sports nets are put away and garden netting is raised 30cm off the ground so hedgehogs can safely pass under.
- Always extremely carefully check for wildlife before mowing, strimming or lighting a bonfire pile.
- If you find a hedgehog in need of help contact www.wildlifeambulance.org or www.help4hedgehogs.com in Herstmonceux.
Schools: There are plenty of activities for our children on Twinkl or on britishhedghogs.org.uk
How will we know how great we are?
If you spot a hedgehog or put a highway in your fence just log it on www.bighedgehogmap.org. Let’s make our towns and villages prickle with Hogs on the map!
We are hedgehogs4hailsham – ‘Making Hailsham the most hedgehog friendly town in Britain’
We are very lucky to be seeing prickly visitors but we need to stop the decline NOW!
Join us in improving wildlife chances.
Email: [email protected]
