The 2025-26 Hedgehog Friendly Awards: A Year of Making Space for Nature

Today, we're celebrating all of the pupils, students, staff members and volunteers who have taken part in Hedgehog Friendly Campus & Schools this year. Whether you've planted wildflowers, created hedgehog highways, delivered assemblies, organised awareness events, carried out surveys, fundraised, or simply got people talking about hedgehog conservation for the first time, thank you! Every action has helped make the places where we learn a little bit better for wildlife.

Hedgehog Friendly Campus & Schools is a national award scheme, delivered by SOS UK and part-funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and public donations. The scheme supports schools, colleges and universities to take action for hedgehogs and other wildlife.

The Hedgehog Friendly movement continued to grow this year with 956 actions completed, and 90 schools, colleges and universities engaged through the programme. We were particularly excited to welcome 55 new schools to the programme, supporting even more pupils across the UK to engage with nature on their doorstep via their school-based learning. It's also been great to see our more experienced institutions continuing to build on years of dedication to take more ambitious actions and inspire wider community action!

So, without further ado...

University Awards

A big congratulations to the following universities on achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus accreditation this year:

🥉 Bronze

• De Montfort University (renewal)

• University of Manchester

• University of Northampton (renewal)

• University of Greenwich

• Royal Veterinary College (renewal)

• The Open University (renewal)

  
  

🥈 Silver

• De Montfort University

• University of Northampton

• Royal Veterinary College

• The Open University

  
  

🥇 Gold

• Birmingham City University (renewal)

• Nottingham Trent University - Mansfield campus

  
  

🏆 Platinum

• Durham University

Nottingham Trent University hibernating hedgehog stand, University of Northampton crossing sign, Royal Veterinary College hedgehog footprint survey.

🌟 A special mention

This year, we'd also like to recognise the University of Manchester and Birmingham City University, who took part in our Full Package programme and had some particularly great engagement.

 Birmingham City University bake sales, hedgehog footprint surveys and hedgehog house building.

University of Manchester bug hotel building, bake sale, and hedgehog footprint surveys.

It has been fantastic to work more closely to support both institutions, visit their campuses and see firsthand their commitment to creating lasting change for nature on their sites. We're excited to see where their Hedgehog Friendly journeys take them next!

Further Education College Awards

A big congratulations to the following colleges on achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus accreditation this year:

🥉 Bronze

• Colchester Institute

• Halesowen College

  
  

🥈 Silver

• One Sixth Form College (Suffolk One)

  
  

🥇 Gold

• Myerscough College and University Centre

• West Suffolk College

Colchester Institute bug hotel, West Suffolk College hedgehog event stand, One Sixth Form College (Suffolk One) hedgehog footprints.

Secondary School Awards

A big congratulations to the following secondary schools on achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus accreditation this year:

🥈 Silver

• Bournemouth School for Girls

• Landmark International School

• Falinge Park High School

 Bournemouth School for Girls information board, Falinge Park High School hedgehog safe pond edge, Landmark International School bug hotel in a mug.

Primary School Awards

A big congratulations to the following primary schools on achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus accreditation this year:

🥉 Bronze

• Coldfall Primary School

• Dalbeattie Primary School

• Lasswade Primary School

• Luddenden CE Primary School

• Mandeville Primary School

• Rushall Primary School

• St Andrews Junior School

• Stanton Community Primary School

• Wheatfield Primary School

• Willow Grove Primary School

  
  

🥈 Silver

• Astley CE Primary School

• Highfield Infants’ and Junior School

• Ormiston Herman Academy

• Prendergast CP School

• The Ladies College

• West Barns Primary School

  
  

🥇 Gold

• Archibald First School

• Aurora Hedgeway School

• Carlton Colville Primary School

• Exning Primary School

• Foxdell Primary School

• Glenurquhart Primary School

• Gosforth C of E Primary School

• Harrysmuir Primary School

• Logan Primary School & ECC

• New Waltham Academy

• Oakfield Primary School

• Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School

• St. Teresa's Catholic Primary School

• Tattenhall Park Primary School

• Waterville Primary School

Richard Taylor C of E Primary School display board, Ormiston Herman Academy reception litter pick, Luddenden CE Primary School colouring competition.

A huge thank you!

Behind every one of these awards are people who chose to give their time and energy to wildlife. Teachers who squeezed activities about hedgehogs into already busy timetables. Students who turned their ideas into campaigning action. Site staff who made space and time for improving and creating habitats. Volunteers who gave up lunch breaks and free periods, and people who cared enough to ask, "How can we make a positive difference?"

While an award certificate is a lovely way to celebrate your achievements, what we're really recognising is the care, persistence and enthusiasm that got you there. You've helped make schools, colleges and universities better places for hedgehogs and other wildlife, and you've inspired others to take action too. Thank you very much for being part of this growing community!

If you're celebrating today, we'd love to see it! Share your photos and stories using #HFCBronze, #HFCSilver, #HFCGold, #HFCPlatinum, and don't forget to tag @hogfriendly, @hedgehogsociety and @sosukcharity.

Don’t see your institution listed and want to get involved this coming academic year? Email info@hedgehogfriendlycampus.co.uk for more information. Join the movement and take action for nature!