'Important' to care for Surrey hedgehogs, say conservation groups
Surrey wildlife groups are urging people to make sure their gardens are welcoming to hedgehogs.Hedgehog Awareness Week, an annual campaign by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, runs until 10 May.Anne Brummer, founder of Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue in Windlesham, said hedgehogs "get to know an area really well so it's really important that we look after the hedgehogs in our local area".Oliver Fry, of Surrey Wildlife Trust, told BBC Radio Surrey hedgehog numbers "are down substantially" in recent years.
Hedgehogs can be supported by ensuring gardens are not "too tidy" as they like to hide in leaves, foliage, and under sheds, said Mr Fry.He added that cutting small holes in the bottom of fences will "enable the prickly little characters to move around unimpeded, and they'll help you out by eating your slugs as they go about their business".
'What's not to love?'
Ms Brummer said native flowers can attract food for hedgehogs as can places for them to drink, but that it was important to make sure hedgehogs have a means of escape from water if they fall in.Ponds, uncovered drains, and gardening tools can all be hazards for hedgehogs, she added."It's important to look after them because they are really cool," she said."They only do good to our garden, they get rid of all the slugs and bugs and things that gardeners don't like in there, and they are just the most beautiful little things you can imagine. What's not to love about them?"Mr Fry added: "They are wonderful creatures and it is such a pleasure to see them in your garden."
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BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
'Important' to care for Surrey hedgehogs, say conservation groups
Surrey wildlife groups are urging people to make sure their gardens are welcoming to Awareness Week, an annual campaign by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, runs until 10 Brummer, founder of Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue in Windlesham, said hedgehogs "get to know an area really well so it's really important that we look after the hedgehogs in our local area".Oliver Fry, of Surrey Wildlife Trust, told BBC Radio Surrey hedgehog numbers "are down substantially" in recent years. Hedgehogs can be supported by ensuring gardens are not "too tidy" as they like to hide in leaves, foliage, and under sheds, said Mr added that cutting small holes in the bottom of fences will "enable the prickly little characters to move around unimpeded, and they'll help you out by eating your slugs as they go about their business". 'What's not to love?' Ms Brummer said native flowers can attract food for hedgehogs as can places for them to drink, but that it was important to make sure hedgehogs have a means of escape from water if they fall uncovered drains, and gardening tools can all be hazards for hedgehogs, she added."It's important to look after them because they are really cool," she said."They only do good to our garden, they get rid of all the slugs and bugs and things that gardeners don't like in there, and they are just the most beautiful little things you can imagine. What's not to love about them?"Mr Fry added: "They are wonderful creatures and it is such a pleasure to see them in your garden."
Powys County Times
30-04-2025
- Powys County Times
Pencwm Haven Rescue in Radnorshire opens to help hedgehogs
A woman has opened a new rescue facility with its very own 'hog hotel' inside her Radnorshire garage to help sick and injured hedgehogs. Caroline Mills held the grand opening of Pencwm Haven in Llaithddu, between Newtown and Llandrindod Wells surrounded by supporters and local hedgehog rescuers on Friday (April 25) ahead of Hedgehog Awareness Week from May 4 to 10. Pencwm Haven is the latest satellite rescue facility that's been supported by Newtown's Havenmore which was launched by Rose and Richard Lambert in 2019 with help from TV presenter and naturalist Iolo Williams. Caroline has completed a British Hedgehog Preservation Society approved course in first aid, care and rehabilitation, and will continue to train and help Rose when hoglet season starts in June and July. The new 'hog hotel' at Pencwm Haven Hedgehog Rescue. Rose will still be giving talks, holding fundraising stalls with Caroline and take in hedgehogs as usual in Newtown. 'We are not closing,' said Rose. 'We just don't want to get any bigger and maybe we can get a break in the quiet months. "We will slowly get smaller as we take in on average 250 hedgehogs a year. "If anyone living near Caroline would love to volunteer at Pencwm Haven, she would be very grateful. "We are indebted to one of our trustees Geoff Parsons who has converted the garage into the new rescue along with help from Rob Burridge and Gerard and Sarah Bland for fitting the electrics. "We are so grateful to all those who give their time, making gifts, holding fundraising stalls for us and supporting us in so many ways. We cannot run without you." If you spot a poorly hedgehog, please call Havenmore on 01686 625706 or 07964 338630, or phone Pencwm Haven on 07763 888131. Hokey Pokey hedgehog rescue, which opened in Welshpool in 2023, can be contacted on 07779 828943.
Telegraph
28-10-2024
- Telegraph
Hedgehog extinction fears grow as population plummets in Europe
Hedgehogs are closer to extinction in the wild than ever, after The status of the western European hedgehog has been downgraded to 'near threatened' in the latest edition of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Any further deterioration in hedgehog numbers would see the spiny mammal Numbers are thought to have shrunk in more than half the countries where the species lives – including the UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria – with national declines of 16-33 per cent over the past 10 years. A 2022 study found rural populations of hedgehogs in the UK had fallen up to 75 per cent since 2000, The IUCN experts said hedgehogs were suffering from increasing human pressure, including intensive agriculture, which damages their rural habitats, Dr Abi Gazzard, small mammal specialist at the IUCN, said: 'Regional and national action is essential to support hedgehog populations, through initiatives such as Hedgehog Street in the UK and Danmarks Pindsvin in Denmark.' The IUCN announcement came after a national hedgehog conservation strategy was launched in the UK by the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). The charities warned that an eighth of all hedgehogs in the country die every year as roadkill, and Responding to the IUCN report, Nida Al-Fulaij, chief executive of PTES, said: 'The news that European hedgehogs have been reclassified by the IUCN as 'near threatened' globally raises the alarm for this much-loved native species across their range.' Fay Vass, chief executive of BHPS, She said: 'I'd encourage everyone to help where they can, as small, simple actions can have a huge impact on habitat availability, connectivity, and quality, which is The latest Red List update also included the first global tree assessment, which found The highest proportion of threatened trees were found on islands, where they were at high risk due to deforestation for development and agriculture, The IUCN said climate change was increasingly threatening trees through sea level rises and more intense and frequent storms, especially in the tropics. Habitat protection and restoration, as well as conservation in seed banks and botanic garden collections were critical to prevent extinctions, conservationists said. Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN director-general, said: 'Trees are essential to support life on Earth through their vital role in ecosystems, and millions of people depend upon them for their lives and livelihoods.' Four migratory shoreline birds seen in the UK have also had their conservation status downgraded by the IUCN. The grey plover, dunlin, turnstone and curlew sandpiper were all moved to higher threat categories as a result of population decline probably caused by Dr Guy Anderson, the RSPB's migratory birds programme manager, said: 'Migratory bird populations know no borders and are a key indicator of the health of the planet. 'With the return of many migratory bird species to our shores heralded each year, it's extremely concerning to see these declines.' The IUCN Red List now includes 166,061 species, of which 46,337 are classed as threatened with extinction.
