Bramerton Parish Council

Hedgehog Highways

Introduction - Statutory Duty

Under the 2021 Environment Act, public authorities (including town and parish councils) who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England.

Government guidance published on 17th May 2023 clarifies that, as a public authority, town and parish councils must:

Consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Agree policies and specific objectives based on their consideration.
Act to deliver their policies and achieve their objectives.

Biodiversity policy

Hedgehogs in Our Parish – How Residents Can Help

Creating a hedgehog-friendly community

Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s best-loved mammals, but their numbers have declined significantly. Loss of habitat, roads, fencing and changes in gardening practices have all contributed to their decline.

South Norfolk’s rural landscape and gardens can provide important refuges for hedgehogs if suitable habitats are maintained.

Create a Hedgehog Highway

Hedgehogs need to travel between gardens to find food, mates and shelter.

A simple way to help is to create a small opening in a fence or boundary:

approximately 13cm x 13cm;
large enough for a hedgehog;
too small for most pets to pass through.

A network of connected gardens can make a huge difference.

Make your garden safer

Helpful actions include:

checking areas before mowing or strimming;
avoiding leaving netting at ground level;
providing a shallow water dish;
leaving natural shelter areas;
checking compost heaps before turning.

What should hedgehogs eat?

Specialist hedgehog food or meaty cat or dog food can be suitable. Fresh water is always beneficial.

Milk and bread should not be given as they can cause health problems.

Report sightings

Residents can help build knowledge of local hedgehog populations by sharing sightings and photographs with wildlife recording organisations.

Every hedgehog-friendly garden contributes to a healthier local population.

Hedgehog Highways - Hedgehog Street

We want to make sure the hedgehog, the UK’s only spiny mammal, remains a common and familiar part of British life. We know hedgehogs are in trouble. We’ve lost a third of all our hedgehogs since the millennium. Hedgehogs love gardens, and fortunately there are around half a million hectares of garden in the UK. We know what hedgehogs need to survive in gardens. Hedgehogs need access to lots of gardens to survive, so we are encouraging everyone to cooperate. That’s where you come in. More than 100,000 Hedgehog Champions are registered on the Hedgehog Street website, forming a vibrant and enthusiastic community. Champions help us make a real difference for hedgehogs all over the country. Hedgehog Champions can make hedgehog homes and feeding stations, support hedgehog highways and encourage their neighbours to join in. In an increasingly urbanised Britain, we choose to lose all that is complex and beautiful if we do not stand up for our wild animals and plants. We hope you can help us fight for the hedgehog.