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Somerset wildlife trust launches major campaign to enlist ‘hedgehog heroes’ across the county

Homes for Hedgehogs launches to help halt the dramatic decline of one of the UK’s most charismatic and best-loved species.

Somerset Wildlife Trust has today launched Homes for Hedgehogs, a county-wide campaign designed to raise awareness of and help reverse the decline of one of the UK’s most charismatic and best-loved species — the humble hedgehog. Numbers of hedgehogs have been in decline since the 1950s. Then, there was an estimated 30 million of our prickly friends in the UK. In 2020, this number was at just under 900,000. It is hoped that the Homes for Hedgehogs campaign will see large numbers of people making small changes to their gardens and green spaces to turn the fortunes of this magical little mammal around, before we lose it forever.

People who take part in the three-month campaign will receive a FREE Homes for Hedgehog postal pack (digital download also available) which contains lots of information, advice, and a wall planner for their hedgehog activity. After that, they will receive a number of hog-related emails full of fun facts, interesting insights, hedgehog actions to take, and also details of a new autumn hedgehog-based citizen science project which aims to help us build data on the real state of hedgehogs in Somerset.

Rebecca Walford, Head of Fundraising at Somerset Wildlife Trust, says, “Whose heart doesn’t melt when they see a hedgehog?  But there are people in Somerset that will never experience the magic of seeing one of these wonderful creatures snuffling in their garden or green space. These once common animals could well become a fond memory of the past, their decline yet another ‘never mind’ moment in nature, and an animal our grandchildren will never see or experience.

“We’re on a mission to change that, but we need help. We know that people love them and care about them so we’ve got to work collectively to turn their fortunes around. The Homes for Hedgehogs campaign is a way for people to take real and meaningful action simply by making some small changes in their own garden or in their local green space. Small changes add up, so we want as many of those small changes happening all over the county — whether they are made as a family, in your garden, at school, at work, or in your street. And in taking part, people will be able to learn and understand much, much more about these wonderful creatures and why we need to protect them along the way. So please sign up, take part and let’s give hedgehogs a home!”

How to get take part:

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to get on board and help a hog on your patch.

  • Step 1 - Reserve your FREE Homes for Hedgehog pack by clicking this link: www.somersetwildlife.org/homes-hedgehogs. Packs will be sent out in the post mid-July and will contain loads of brilliant information, advice, and resources to get you started on some basic hedgehog heroics.
  • Step 2 - You’ve got mail! From August 1st, we’ll be following up the packs with a series of emails designed to give people more ideas, inspiration from other communities, and hoggy insights to keep them focused on the mission, covering useful topics such as what hedgehogs like to eat, how to build a hedgehog house, and what to do if the hedgehogs in your garden are sick or injured.
  • Step 3 - Unleash your Inner citizen scientist. We’ll be launching a special citizen science project between September 11th – 18th, when we’ll be asking you to officially record your hedgehog sightings so we can get a more complete picture of the number and distribution of hedgehogs across the county. Then we’ll be able to identify where our hogs most need help!

What are you waiting for?  Reserve your FREE pack and be a Homes for Hedgehogs hero today! And whatever you do as a hedgehog hero, the Trust want to hear about it! If you are on social media share your pictures of hedgehogs or the things that you are doing to give them a home using the hashtag #HomesforHedgehogs.

Close up of a hedgehog walking

Editor’s Notes

About Somerset Wildlife Trust

Somerset Wildlife Trust is a nature conservation charity. Its purpose is to restore and protect the populations of species across the county and the habitats they call home. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to nature, natural habitats and the ecosystems that support our life on earth.  Our aims are to help address both the ecological and climate crises and put nature back into people’s lives.

Nature reserves and protected sites on their own are not enough. In order to reverse the decline in species’ diversity and abundance, and create resilient landscapes and habitats for wildlife and for people that can adapt to climate change, we need to: 

  • encourage and support landowners to manage their land positively for nature; create more space for nature;
  • connect wildlife-rich spaces across the wider landscape to create a robust Nature Recovery Network for Somerset; and
  • create a movement of people – at least 1 in 4 – that take action for nature’s recovery across Somerset as part of Team Wilder. 

This is at the core of our new 10-year strategy. Nationally the Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of land to be managed positively for nature by 2030. What we do in Somerset must contribute to that national ambition. You can read our full 10 year strategy, Wilder Somerset here.

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