Wild Kidlington is launching a project to help us help our hedgehogs. In the UK our little prickly friends are in trouble – so much so that they’re on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. Since 2000 in rural areas hedgehog populations have plummeted by between 30% and 75% (The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs).

Having conducted some interactive research into hedgehog sightings in our village at last year’s Gala Day and other events, Rhiannon (our wonderful Wild Kidlington officer) and her team of volunteers is hoping to begin creating ‘hedgehog highways’, opening up more territory for hedgehogs to safely get around and flourish in our neighbourhoods. Due to the wandering habits of hedgehogs – some go at least 1 mile each night – they often end up in unsafe places, like our roads! By connecting up safe spaces and our own gardens for hedgehogs, we can help them stay out of danger. This also makes sure that hedgehogs have enough habitat to survive and thrive in Kidlington.

How to take part in our village-wide hedgehog highway:

1. Put/cut a 13cm x 13cm hole in your fences to let them into your neighbouring gardens (check with your neighbours first! It is advisable to avoid putting gaps to the gardens that have dogs in them)
2. Register your gap (and any hedgehog sigtings!) on the Big Hedgehog Map – part of the national Hedgehog Street campaign. Have a browse and find out about other sightings near you by entering your postcode in the search box.

We’ll be developing this project in the coming weeks. It’ll be like a hedgehog war room in here. In the meantime, if you’d like to find out more, get advice / help putting in hedgehog gaps, or like the idea of being part of Team Hedgehog please email Rhiannon at kidlington@wildoxfordshire.org.uk