
Photo by Anna Goodhall
WHY HEDGEHOGS?
BRONZE
GOLD
AWARD
SILVER
AWARD
BRONZE
AWARD
HOW DO WE REGISTER AND WHY?
Registering your school, college or university on the website is essential for you to take part in the programme. Without registering, you can’t access the toolkit or submit for an accreditation. Registering also enables us to send out information to you that you will need to complete your accreditation. Click here to watch a short video explaining how to register.

Hedgehog Friendly Campus started at the University of Sheffield during Hedgehog Awareness Week in 2018. Staff and students came together to learn why hedgehogs are at threat and how they can help. Hedgehog safaris took place to find out if hedgehogs were there and with support from the grounds and gardens staff and student's union, hedgehog-friendly changes were made to the green spaces on campus. I knew it was something special when there was enthusiasm for the project from all areas of the university, including senior managers, local community groups and those who didn't normally engage in sustainability issues. So, The British Hedgehog Preservation Society funded the programme and it was rolled out to all UK campuses! Now, the project is delivered by SOS-UK, a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability!
Hedgehog Friendly Campus was created in response to the alarming decline in hedgehog numbers. They're a species that are really beloved in the UK, but they're now listed as vulnerable to extinction on Britain's Red List because of things like habitat loss, building developments and garden hazards. These are some big challenges to tackle and they impact on all wildlife in the UK. But universities, colleges and schools have loads of space they could use to support hedgehogs and other wildlife, with some changes being quite simple! The programme provides the roadmap to these changes, through a hedgehog-friendly action list.
The programme supports campuses to protect hedgehogs from hazards, replace and enhance habitats and raise awareness within the community. Dedicated teams of volunteer Hedgehog Ambassadors are out tackling problems on their campus, like cutting out poisons, picking up litter and installing hedgehog highways! We also support campuses with training and equipment to survey for hedgehogs and other wildlife, contributing to species monitoring efforts.
HOW WAS HFC STARTED?
WHY WAS IT CREATED?
WHAT DOES IT DO TO HELP HEDGEHOGS?
So why hedgehogs you ask? Other than being the nation's favourite, hedgehogs are known for their prickly spines, which they have everywhere except on their face, legs and tummies. These cute creatures depend on their spines for defence, both while they sleep and when they face predators. Though sadly, hedgehog spines aren't enough to protect themselves from the dangers the human world has to offer.
Dangers of the human world
hover over the following images to find out why these are dangerous for hedgehogs

ROADS CAUSE FRAGMENTATION IN THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE AND ROADKILL

NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
LEAD TO HABITAT LOSS AND
FRAGMENTATION

GARDEN MACHINERY CAUSES LOSS OF LIMBS OR EVEN DEATH

NOT CHECKING A BONFIRE BEFORE LIGHTING CAN CAUSE A HEDGEHOG
DEATH

NOT PROVIDING AN ESCAPE ROUTE IN PONDS
CAN LEAD TO DROWNING

PLASTIC WASTE ENTANGLEMENT
CAN CAUSE PAINFUL INJURIES AND EVEN DEATH

AGRICULTURAL SIMPLIFICATION OF RURAL LANDSCAPE LEADS TO LOSS
OF HABITAT AND FOOD

HEDGEHOGS CAN BECOME STUCK IN DRAINS & CATTLE GRIDS IF THERE IS NO ESCAPE ROUTE

PESTICIDES AND POISON CAN POTENTIALLY KILL A HEDGEHOG
Dangers of the natural world
hover over the following images to find out why these are potential threats to hedgehogs

LACK OF NATURAL FOOD DUE TO INSECT DECLINE

SMALL
POPULATIONS
MAY BE MORE
VULNERABLE TO ADDITIONAL
PREDATORY THREATS

HEDGEHOGS OFTEN GET PARASITES AND ILLNESSES
So why do we need to help hedgehogs? A decline in hedgehogs also indicates a decline in the quality of our environment and the health of the natural world, they have faced a long historic decline. The role of hedgehogs are really important to our ecosystem. They control insect populations and keep gardens healthy. In 2020, hedgehogs were put on the UK Red List as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain.
Differences between urban and rural populations are increasingly apparent. In urban areas is a stabilising population showing signs of recovery. This highlights the importance of gardens, green spaces, and local action, in ensuring a future for hedgehogs.

WHO CAN REGISTER?
Staff or students can register to the website. Register a new team, or become a part of an existing team.
WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?
Volunteering for Hedgehog Friendly Campus only needs 1-2 hours of your time per month! We're looking for team leaders and team members - get in touch for more information!
STRUCTURE OF HFC
CAMPUS ACCREDITATION
Help hedgehogs thrive at your university, school or college by completing toolkit activities to reach the next award level

OUR KEY MILESTONES 2021/22
239 HABITAT PILES MADE
52 TEAMS CELEBRATED HEDGEHOG WEEK
£4637 RAISED FOR BHPS
3000 PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ENGAGED
THE BIG HOG-FRIENDLY LITTER PICK CHALLENGE!
1026 PARTICIPANTS, 795 BAGS OF LITTER COLLECTED
92 ACCREDITATIONS AWARDED!
35 BRONZE, 36 SILVER, 21 GOLD.
OUR KEY MILESTONES
228 TEAMS ARE NOW REGISTERED WITH HFC

235 CAMPUS HEDGEHOG SIGHTINGS REPORTED ON
BIGHEDGEHOGMAP.ORG THIS YEAR
347 HEDGEHOG STREET HEDGEHOG CHAMPIONS
REGISTERED
75 TALKS AND WORKSHOPS DELIVERED
104 HEDGEHOG SURVEYS (CAMERA & FOOTPRINT)
92 TEAMS USING STRIMMER STICKERS
HOG
FRIENDLY
CAMPUS

Hedgehog Friendly Campus
is funded by:
British Hedgehog Preservation Society