Town Council Promotes Hedgehog Conservation Ahead of National Awareness Week

Hailsham Town Council is encouraging residents to support local hedgehog conservation efforts in the lead-up to Hedgehog Awareness Week, a nationwide initiative dedicated to protecting this much-loved species.

Taking place from 3rd to 9th May, Hedgehog Awareness Week aims to highlight the continued decline of hedgehog populations across the UK and to promote practical steps individuals and communities can take to support their survival. The campaign was established by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) to draw attention to the threats facing hedgehogs and to advance measures that safeguard their welfare through public engagement and research.

Hedgehogs are an important component of local ecosystems. They contribute to biodiversity by controlling populations of invertebrates such as slugs and snails, while also forming part of the wider food chain. However, their numbers have fallen significantly in recent decades due to habitat loss, climate change and other environmental pressures. Protecting hedgehogs is therefore essential not only to prevent further decline but also to preserve a valuable element of the nation’s natural heritage.

In Hailsham, the community group Hedgehogs4Hailsham continues its work to make the town more hospitable to hedgehogs and other wildlife. Residents are encouraged to take simple but effective actions within their own gardens and local green spaces to create safer and more accessible habitats.

Measures include creating ‘hedgehog highways’ by leaving small gaps (approximately 13cm by 13cm) at the base of fences and walls to allow movement between gardens; maintaining natural features such as log piles, leaf cover and undisturbed areas for shelter and food; and ensuring access to clean, shallow water sources. Gardeners are also advised to provide safe exit points from ponds, cover drains and holes, check areas before mowing, and avoid the use of pesticides or hazardous materials.

Additional precautions include lifting netting off the ground to prevent entanglement, removing litter that could trap wildlife, and carefully inspecting bonfire piles before lighting. Residents who encounter injured or distressed hedgehogs are advised to seek assistance from appropriate wildlife rescue organisations.

Gill Howson, founder of Hedgehogs4Hailsham, emphasised the importance of community involvement: “We can all do something to help wildlife. Over 100,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads each year. Can we slow down at night? And of course doing simple things in gardens including growing pollinator friendly plants are a great start.”

Cllr Mary Laxton, Chair of the Town Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Committee, noted the broader context: “Urban hedgehog populations have declined markedly in recent decades, partly due to habitat fragmentation. As natural habitats diminish, gardens and green spaces have become increasingly important refuges.”

She added that planning policy has a role to play in addressing this issue: “Through the recently updated Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan, we are seeking to strengthen policies that support biodiversity and ensure that new developments incorporate wildlife-friendly features, including hedgehog highways, to improve connectivity between habitats.”

“By embedding these considerations into both community action and future planning, we can help to create a more sustainable environment that supports not only hedgehogs, but a wide range of native species for generations to come.”

Hailsham Town Council urges residents to participate in Hedgehog Awareness Week and to continue supporting conservation efforts beyond the campaign period.

For further information, visit hedgehogs4hailsham@gmail.com (Gill4wildlife).