Latest news with #PTES
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
New campaign asks people to let gardens grow for hedgehogs
The new Go WILD for Hedgehogs campaign, launched by wildlife charities People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), encourages people to leave an undisturbed patch of garden to support the declining hedgehog population. Grace Johnson, hedgehog officer for Hedgehog Street, said: "Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, they're minimal effort and cost. "By simply allowing an area to grow a little wild and undisturbed, you can help to create a diverse habitat that's perfect for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife in the heart of our villages, towns and cities. "Instead of weeding and mowing, sit back, relax and watch nature thrive in your garden." Hedgehogs have seen steep declines in rural areas, with populations falling by 30 to 75 per cent since 2000, according to the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report. However, there are signs of recovery in urban areas, believed to be thanks to public efforts and the work of more than 130,000 volunteer hedgehog champions. To take part, supporters are asked to register their wild patch on the Hedgehog Street website.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs': new campaign urges gardeners to create wild patches for hedgehogs
This July, gardeners, families and individuals are being urged to create wild patches as part of a new campaign to make more spaces with natural insect food and nesting materials for native hedgehogs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new 'Go WILD for Hedgehogs' campaign from Hedgehog Street – run by wildlife charities People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) – simply involves leaving a wild, undisturbed patch in a garden and recording its location online. Not only does this create much-needed food and shelter for hedgehogs, but also tells conservationists at PTES and BHPS where hedgehog havens are, and where more are needed. The campaign begins this summer when people in all corners of the UK are asked to choose a patch, strip or corner of their garden to leave undisturbed, untrimmed, and simply let it grow. Once selected, you will then just need to upload photos and record the location online. To go the extra mile, Hedgehog Street suggests planting wildflower seeds in autumn to further attract pollinators and other insects the following year. Throughout the year Hedgehog Street will share updates and top tips such as how to maximise wild patches, what to look out for and other ways to help hedgehogs as the seasons change. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street said: 'Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, they're minimal effort and cost! By simply allowing an area to grow a little wild and undisturbed, you can help to create a diverse habitat that's perfect for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife in the heart of our villages, towns and cities. Instead of weeding and mowing, sit back, relax and watch nature thrive in your garden.' A wild patch for hedgehogs and wildlife. Hedgehogs face many threats and are in widespread decline. According to the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report published by BHPS and PTES, rural populations have plummeted by between 30-75% since 2000. Yet encouragingly, the report also showed that populations in urban areas may be starting to recover, likely thanks to Hedgehog Street's 130,000 volunteer Hedgehog Champions and the wider public who continue to make their gardens and local green spaces more hedgehog friendly. The new 'Go WILD for Hedgehogs' campaign builds on this as gardens, and especially wild patches, can offer important refuges for hedgehogs and can help reverse the decline that this much-loved nocturnal species is facing. Extra ways to turn any garden into a hedgehog haven include providing compost heaps and log and leaf piles to further encourage natural insect prey and offer places to nest, leaving out shallow dishes of water, and/or creating a wildlife pond with sloping sides or an escape ramp. Then, connect this amazing new habitat by popping 13cm x 13cm square holes (known as 'Hedgehog Highways') in or under garden fences to allow hedgehogs to move between green spaces in search of food, shelter and mates. Special 'Hedgehog Highway' signs can be bought from BHPS or PTES to tell neighbours and any future homeowners why the Highway is there, and why it needs to remain open. Those without a garden can still help hedgehogs too; contact local councils and developers to highlight the importance of managing parks and public green spaces for hedgehogs, call for new-build sites to be hedgehog friendly, and raise awareness of the urgent need to help hedgehogs by sharing PTES and BHPS' social media posts and talking with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about ways they can help hedgehogs. Becoming a volunteer 'spotter' for PTES and BHPS' National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which can be done from your own home, is a great way to help too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more and to register your wild patch, visit And, if you're on social media, BHPS and PTES would love to see your wild patch pictures using #GoWildForHedgehogs
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Hazel dormice: Rare rodents reintroduced in Leicestershire to boost numbers
Conservationists have released more than twenty rare hazel dormice into a secret woodland location in project is part of national efforts to help the tiny endangered species return from the brink of follows a similar successful reintroduction of the mammals to the National Forest, in neighbouring hope is that these two groups of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole area. What have wildlife experts done with the dormice? Experts say that numbers of hazel dormice have fallen by around 70% nationally in the past twenty five once being common across Britain, they have experienced a big drop in numbers for many reasons but particularly because of loss of habitat - places to live such as woods and hedgerows. The way woods and hedgerows are maintained has also impacted their survival as the tiny mice need dense, varied woodlands to hide and to a recent report, the species is thought to now be extinct in 20 English dormice were reintroduced this week to a secret location within the Bradgate Park Trust estate in Leicestershire by a team of experts, including wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).To help them adapt to their new environment, the animals will be first housed in open enclosures for more than a week, before being fully released into the wild. Ian White from PTES said that the reintroduction could be an important step in starting a new population of explained: "It's a big day for the county, as dormice haven't been seen here for a very long time."We're hopeful that by autumn, the dormice will have settled into the woodland. If we start to see litters later this year, it will mark the beginning of their return," Mr White added.
Leader Live
12-06-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
Rhyl Journal
12-06-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
