Photo by Anna Goodhall
WHY HEDGEHOGS?
Registering
Registering your school, college or university 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.
Primary schools
If you aren't registered and want to take part in Hedgehog Friendly Schools, please email us prior to registering.
FE Colleges​
If you aren't registered and want to get involved, we have 15 places available for this year! Read more on page 22 of our offer document and register your interest by 7 June 2023!
Universities
Hedgehog Friendly Campus is no longer fully funded for universities. There are 10 subsidised places available this year. Please visit this link for further details (see page 22) and register to take part here.
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?
Why hedgehogs? Hedgehogs are the nation's favourite mammal, but sadly face a range of threats from human activity.
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 grounds, gardens and green spaces in ensuring a future for hedgehogs.​
​​
STRUCTURE OF HFC
BRONZE
GOLD
AWARD
SILVER
AWARD
BRONZE
AWARD
WHO CAN REGISTER?
Staff or students can register to the programme. 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!
CAMPUS & SCHOOL ACCREDITATION
Help hedgehogs thrive at your university, college or school by completing toolkit activities to reach the next award level
OUR KEY MILESTONES 2022/23
553 POSITIVE SIGNS OF HEDGEHOGS
210 SCHOOLS USED THE HEDGEHOG WEEK ACTIVITY PACK
£4654 RAISED FOR BHPS
3859 PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ENGAGED
THE BIG HOG-FRIENDLY LITTER PICK CHALLENGE!
1539 PARTICIPANTS, 961 BAGS OF LITTER COLLECTED
92 ACCREDITATIONS AWARDED!
42 BRONZE, 22 SILVER, 31 GOLD.
OUR KEY MILESTONES
251 TEAMS ARE NOW REGISTERED WITH HFC
118 HEDGEHOG HOUSES PLACED ON SITE
3525 HEDGEHOG FRIENDLY TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED
46 TALKS AND WORKSHOPS DELIVERED
140 HEDGEHOG HABITAT PILES MADE
598 TUNNELS AND CAMERAS USED TO TRACK HEDGEHOGS
HEDGEHOG
FRIENDLY
CAMPUS
Partially funded
by:
Delivered by:
