Hedgehogs4hailsham is a community group working towards helping the people of Hailsham and surrounds to create a hedgehog friendly environment to support the recovery of wildlife.
How will we do that?
Like The British Hedgehog Preservation Society hedghogs4hailsham are asking people in Hailsham and surrounding areas to “give hedgehogs the edge” this year. Gardens could be the new nature reserves especially if we make sure they are connected to each other. They can replace some of the natural habitats that we are destroying.
Try these wildlife-friendly ways to give hedgehogs the edge:
- Let the edges grow wild!Log piles, leaf heaps, and wild edges attract natural food and offer shelter for hedgehogs. Always carefully check for wildlife before mowing, strimming or tidying wild areas.
- Add Hedgehog highways!These 13cm x 13cm square gaps in the base of boundary walls and fences ensure hedgehogs can access vital habitat. Once made, log them on the Big Hedgehog Map. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, ENCLOSED FENCES ARE TRAPPING HEDGEHOGS WITH INSUFFICIENT FOOD AND ACCESS TO MATES.
- Make pondssafe! Ponds are great for wildlife but ensure there are escape routes – add sloping edges, ramps or half-submerged rocks so hedgehogs can scramble out.
- Look out for litter! Litter is very harmful to wildlife, and while it’s hopefully not an issue in your own garden, it’s likely to be in the wider environment. Contact landowners where litter is a problem; remember to point out the danger to wildlife.
- Wateris vital for all wildlife and can be scarce, especially during hot spells. Make sure there are always clean shallow bowls of water available for hedgehogs – add a few pebbles for bees and butterflies to perch on so they can safely drink too.
- Stop using poisons and pesticidesthat could directly harm wildlife and destroy the food chain.
- Nettingcan 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.
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!
