Hedgehog Preservation Week 30Apr - 6May

Why We Should Help the Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs have been part of the British wildlife for centuries, but their population has been declining rapidly in recent years. In response to this, the Hedgehog Preservation Society has designated the last week of April as Hedgehog Awareness Week to raise awareness of the plight of the hedgehogs and encourage people to take action to help them.

So why should we help the hedgehogs?

There are several reasons why these spiky little creatures are important to our ecosystem.

• Firstly, they are natural pest controllers, feeding on insects, slugs, and other garden pests. By eating these creatures, they help to keep our gardens and parks healthy and free of the harmful little beasts...
   
• Hedgehogs are also important indicators of the health of our environment. They are vulnerable to pollutants and habitat loss, and their decline is a sign that our environment is in trouble. By helping the hedgehogs, we can help to protect our environment and preserve the biodiversity of our planet.

But what can we, as individuals, do to help the hedgehogs?

There are several simple steps that we can take to make our gardens hedgehog-friendly.

• Firstly, we can create hedgehog highways by making small holes in our garden fences to allow hedgehogs to pass through. Please only allow this if your dogs are either indifferent to wildlife or if they’re not left unattended. We can also provide hedgehogs with food and water by putting out bowls of hedgehog or high-meat content and food quality cat food and water in our gardens.
   
• Another way to help hedgehogs is to provide them with shelter. We can do this by creating hedgehog houses using simple materials such as bricks and logs. You can also find local craftsmen who can make these for you for a small fee. These houses provide hedgehogs with a safe place to rest and hibernate during the winter months.
   
• Finally, we can support organisations such as the Hedgehog Preservation Society and other wildlife conservation groups that work to protect and conserve hedgehogs and their habitats. There are serveral local animal rescues also helping hedgehogs. You can find them on our page by clicking here: (Britishhedgehogs.org.uk)

In conclusion, Hedgehog Awareness Week is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the plight of the hedgehogs and encourage people to take action to help them. By taking simple steps to make our gardens hedgehog-friendly and supporting conservation efforts, we can help to protect these important creatures and preserve the biodiversity of our planet.

Share your love with #HedgehogWeek
and #WeHelpAnimals

If you want you can download our prepared template (HedgehogWeek_Frame.png) and use it as an overlay / sticker on the photo of your pet, post it on social media with hashtags #HedgehogWeek and #WeHelpAnimals.

You can combine photos in any photo editing program that allows you to combine images on your phone, or online in one of the free photo editors, for example https://pixlr.com/x/
You can also do it directly on Instagram (recommended photo shape - square) as a story.

If you’d like to hear more about the hedgehog preservation week, head on to:

• Twitter: Hedgehogsociety
• Facebook: Hedgehogsociety
• website: Britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Read our article about hedgehogs:
Hedgehogs. Our Hedgehogs.