Homes for hedgehogs - Watchet Hedgehogs

“Watchet Hedgehogs was started by nearly three years ago, initially as a Facebook Group during lockdown. It was intended to be a forum for local residents who would like the opportunity to post photos, ask questions, answer question and to pass on information about hedgehogs, to like-minded people. The group soon grew - it was amazing how many local (and not so local) people needed somewhere to share their love of our native wild hedgehog. Hedgehog awareness is an important part of what the group is all about and much guidance has been given on how to help hedgehogs in our gardens. From making gardens hedgehog friendly, ensuring they can get in and out of gardens through hedgehog highways, leaving ‘wild’ areas, putting out a supply of water all year round and not using insecticides and weedkillers.

As a result of the group, we have lots more hedgehog boxes and feeding stations in place across the area, and have given advice on the correct food to give to hedgehogs. The other important advice given is how to spot a hedgehog which needs urgent help. We are lucky to be supported by a wide range of people and groups. We have three gentlemen in Watchet who will make hedgehog boxes for a reasonable cost, and people who will take a poorly hedgehog to Secret World Wildlife Rescue if the need arises and the finder is unable to do so.

In the first year of forming we held a painting competition for children. The criteria being a painting or drawing of a hedgehog. We had a lot of entries and a local trader donated prizes for the different age groups. The same year we had a tree at St Decuman’s Church Christmas Tree Festival, the theme being ‘cards’ and so the children’s paintings were reduced to greetings card size and adorned the tree. At the base of the tree was information about Watchet Hedgehogs and hedgehogs in general.

Last year we once again submitted a tree, keeping to the theme of the festival ‘festive food’. Our tree was decorated with photos of the packaging of various hedgehog foods with an information sheet on what to, and not to, feed hedgehogs. We took part in a children’s craft morning in the local Methodist Church, where they could design and create their own badges, make hedgehogs out of books, colour in pictures or make a collage. This was a very successful morning, with children taking ideas back to their families and schools."

"We are lucky that a local lady who runs a small rescue is part of the group, is very knowledgeable and is always willing to help out with questions and make suggestions on the best way to help hedgehogs. We are pleased to support her and the rescue by doing fundraising events, whilst passing out leaflets from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

All of our events promote learning. One of our members is the chairman of CMIST (Community Men in Sheds). A group for people to get together and make items from recycled wood etc, and they regularly provide hedgehog feeding stations, boxes, bug houses etc for people to put in their gardens.

We have our own website which was designed and sponsored by Geckoella Ltd, and our own logo designed for us. We regularly submit articles to our local free newsletter which is delivered to every house in the town, and to Watchet and Williton’s parish newsletters, and give talks to local groups to raise awareness, which are usually very well attended.”

To find out more about the work of Watchet Hedgehogs and get involved with the community, visit https://www.watchethedgehogs.org/