Protecting our prickly population – collaborating with Keele Hedgehog Campus

"With the current circumstances, it is more important than ever to connect and share the message of the plight of hedgehogs virtually and in Keele's green spaces. Through the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign, Keele University has been able to reach the community, staff and students, in efforts to make the Keele campus a safer place for these prickly mammals.” 

 

Alana Wheat, a Student Hedgehog Ambassador at Keele University, is determined to make sure the Keele campus is a safe zone for a declining hedgehog population. 

 

In 1995, Stephen Harris estimated the UK hedgehog population to be 1.55 million. 

 

However, surveys since the turn of the century have estimated that hedgehog numbers have fallen by about 50%. 

 

Intensive farming in rural areas and urban development are key factors behind their plight, but hedgehog champions are helping to reverse the decline. 

 

The Woodmeadow Walk Initiative is a collaboration between Nurture and Keele University with the purpose of improving biodiversity on the campus pathways. 

By teaming up with Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus, we will be creating places of happiness for Keele’s prickly friends. 

 

There are a number of ways we can protect hedgehogs on campus, including: 

• creating wood piles; 

• making compost heaps; 

• encouraging hedges instead of fences; 

• planting wildflowers and other hedgehog-friendly plants; 

• giving nettles and weeds the freedom to thrive in ‘wild corners’; 

• building nesting boxes for hedgehogs. 

 

 

By providing safe places for hedgehogs to live, we are much more likely to see these prickly creatures on campus. 

 

The Wildlife Trusts has a simple 3 step process for building a safe hedgehog house. The key is to make sure that hedgehogs can't get trapped with their spines! 

 

 

Although the overall decline remains a concern, surveys by the People's Trust for Endangered Species show that efforts to create habitat for hedgehogs in urban areas are working. 

 

By collaborating with Alana Wheat and Keele Hedgehog Friendly Campus, Nurture is determined to play a part in reversing the decline and supporting efforts to make the University campus a safer place for these much-loved prickly creatures.