The Great British Hedgehog Survey Needs Your Help!

The start of May marks Hedgehog Awareness week in the UK and hedgehog food brand Spike’s is supporting the message with the launch of The Great British Hedgehog Survey.

Hedgehog Survey Needs Your Help

With British hedgehog numbers on the decline over the last few decades, the survey will help map out where hedgehogs have been sighted across the UK. This data will then be shared with Spike’s charity partners, including Amazing Grace and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), to help plot the UK’s hedgehog population, along with supporting campaign and educational projects.

The survey encourages wildlife enthusiasts to check their gardens and surrounding areas for spiky visitors throughout the warmer months and then enter any sightings into the Spike’s Hedgehog Sightings Map. 

Why are hedgehogs in decline?

There are a range of factors that could be linked to the decline of the hedgehog population including:

• Agricultural intensification: Farming practices have changed over the years. This change has resulted in the removal of hedgerows to create larger fields. In addition, the increasing use of chemicals has reduced the number of insects, which are an important food source for hedgehogs.
• An increase in roads and traffic: Roads can act as barriers for hedgehogs, preventing them from moving freely. Unfortunately, incidents on roads also kill a high number of hedgehogs every year.
• Climate change: Warmer temperature levels in winter mean that hedgehogs are coming out of hibernation too early and are often unable to find the sustenance they need.

What is the survey aiming to find out?

• Which rural habitats hedgehogs are present in and also where they are absent.
• Measure hedgehog occupancy across the UK

Michael Haigh, brand manager at Spike’s, said  “The Great British Hedgehog Survey will help assess the current hedgehog population in the UK and we’re calling on the general public to help get the information we need.

“If you do see a hedgehog and submit your sighting, you can help your spiky garden visitors by leaving out some hedgehog food and fresh water. If you see one in need of urgent medical care, always call your local hedgehog rescue in the first instance.

“The results from the survey will help us and our charity partners to focus our conservation efforts on certain areas to help hedgehogs thrive, despite the modern-day challenges they face”.

Lancashire-based Spike’s Hedgehog Food launched 21 years ago as the first specialist hedgehog food producer in the UK, providing a naturally nutritious range of food for wild hedgehogs. Spike’s products are available from Pets at Home, The Range and Pets Corner, as well as online at www.spikesfood.co.uk – with the popular Starter Bundle available from £10.

The Spike’s Hedgehog Food product range boasts a range of variations including Spike’s Semi-Moist, Meaty Feast, Crunchy Dry and even an Insect Crumble.

In recent years, Spike’s have supported several hedgehog welfare charities including The British Hedgehog Preservation Society and Amazing Grace.

 

For more details, visit www.spikesfood.co.uk, www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk and www.gracethehedgehog.co.uk/