This week the
annual State of Britain’s Hedgehogs report was released, showing that there has
been a worrying decline in Britain’s hedgehogs in recent years, with the
population having declined by at least half in the past two decades. The
decline is especially concerning in rural areas, leading the British Hedgehog
Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species to ask
farmers to help in the fight to save our hedgehogs. The use of pesticides has
reduced the amount of food for hedgehogs and intensive farming has meant that
hedgerows and field margins have been lost, resulting in fewer nesting sites
and less protection for hedgehogs- farmers can help by providing more field
margins, hedgerows and shrubby areas. The government’s plans to replace the EU
Common Agricultural Policy include a scheme to reward farmers for delivering
environmental benefits, giving farmers a huge incentive to help protect our
wildlife. Households can also help protect our hedgehogs by putting out wet cat
and dog food, leaving wild areas for nesting and making holes in fences to allow
them to move between gardens. Every single one of us has a role to play in
ensuring that our wildlife thrives- it is so important that we all do our bit.
