This term, as part of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus scheme, we are continuing to work towards our goal of achieving both bronze and silver accreditation this year!
In the lead up to Christmas we held our first events of an introduction session on teams, and a session on ‘Taking care of Hedgehogs’ delivered by a member of the official national HFC scheme. In the new year we held a February workshop on building hedgehog houses in preparation for them emerging from hibernation. Thank you to all who attended the sessions and hopefully you learnt plenty of new and helpful information!
Through February hedgehogs will typically still be in a state of hibernation. If you were to see one out and about at this time, this is atypical and possibly concerning – so please seek advice from a knowledgeable organisation such as the RSPCA or the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. As we move into March, the hedgehogs will begin to awaken and require food and shelter, hence our activities focused on these resources currently.
If you’re looking to get involved, our upcoming events to save the date for are:
- Biodiversity crisis webinar – 20th March
- Hedgehog survey workshop – 10th April
- Hedgehog survey – 30th April
…And more to be announced. If you wish to get involved please complete our sign up form. Any other questions email sustainability@brighton.ac.uk.
Independently, you may also be able to help hedgehogs in your own gardens by building houses and feeding stations for them. You could even cut holes in fences to create pathways, if you have the appropriate permission from the homeowner. Other helpful hedgehog activities can be found at the websites of:
- the previously mentioned organisations RSPCA and BHPS
- the main Hedgehog Friendly Campus site
- and other organisations such as Hedgehog Street.
Don’t be shy and get involved to help our hedgehogs have a friendly home at the University of Brighton!
Written by Phoenix Messere.