We are excited to announce that the University of Brighton is now a Bronze level Hedgehog Friendly Campus!  We have spent the last year campaigning to increase awareness around the threats that hedgehogs face and liaising with our grounds teams to instigate more hedgehog-friendly management practices across our campuses.

 

To achieve Silver Accreditation we hope to:

• Complete hedgehog surveys on campus
• Create wild corners with hedgehog houses, hedgehog highways and appropriate plant species
• Continue to increase awareness of the issues hedgehogs face among both our student and local community

Why this is important

Hedgehogs have declined by up to 50% in the UK since just the year 2000. They are now vulnerable to extinction in Britain.

How you can help

Follow our social media channels for updates and upcoming opportunities on how to get involved! We can do big things across our campuses to help protect and encourage hedgehogs!

 

Here in the UK Hedgehogs are one of very few mammals that truly hibernate, using this as a strategy to survive during the winter months when their food sources are scarce. Other species in the UK may adopt daily torpor (a reduced state of activity) like birds do, or under go a shorter period of hibernation like the Pipistrelle bats, which hibernate in roosts. Hedgehogs in the UK typically hibernate from October to April. During Autmun hedgehogs are busy foraging for food and building up their fat reserves. Then then seek out quiet, covered spots or build their own hibernaculum (from twigs, and leaves) to spend the winter months. During this time, a hedgehog’s metabolism slows down, experiencing decreases in their heart rate, respiration rate and a internal body temperature. This conserves energy and allows them to survive the winter months.

Habitats with ample leaf litter, log piles and thick undergrowth are vital if hedgehogs are to undergo hibernation without disturbance. However, as climate change alters seasonal cues, temperatures and more, it is increasingly important to ensure these animals and other wildlife have access to food, hibernation sites and safe corridors to move throughout these habitats.

Research by Dr Pat Morris in 1970 highlighted the direct link between climate change and hedgehog hibernation. Observing that hedgehogs arose from hibernation three weeks earlier in S/W England than in Scotland, furthermore, showing a trend of prolonged inactivity and signs of late-entering into torpor. This influences hedgehog fat reserves and can cause premature arousal from torpor and may affect the overall fitness and long-term survival of the species.

So, until they awake from their slumber,  be careful to not disturb areas that they could be using. For example, if the garden is getting a haircut be sure to check the areas you plan to trim. Let hedgehogs sleep, curled up and cosy in their shelters waiting for temperatures to warm and spring to bring a bounty of food for them and their young. In urban areas, leaving leaf piles and log piles can provide just what a tired hedgehog needs for their winter rest. Other ways you can help these sleepy mammals is by ensuring dedicated ‘messy’ areas in our gardens and spaces, providing water and perhaps supplementary food. And by clearing areas that can be used as corridors, hedgehogs can move more freely if they are awoken early to find a new location, this will also support them whilst foraging for food and help reduce the risk of injury.

If you are concerned for a hedgehog and think one has woken or is too small to survive their hibernation, please contact The British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801.

-Blog post written by Ella Scott, student in ecology and conservation at University of Brighton

  Hedgehog friendly campus

We are pleased to be getting started with the campaign, welcoming new students to the committee, raising awareness on campus, working towards next actions and planning the launch event.

Special thanks to Kayla Potter-Jones, MSci Ecology and Conservation graduate, who has provided us with her blog post ”Give a Hog a home” which is all about gardening for hedgehogs. Kayla is an aspiring ecologist and conservationist, who recently graduated from University of Brighton. With aims to inspire others to learn about and support their local wildlife! In her blog post, Kayla covers:

• Gardening for hedgehogs
• Hedgehog highways
• Supplementary food and water
• Hedgehog houses
• What to do if you find an injured or sick hedgehog
• and the signs of hedgehogs in your gardens

To check out Kayla’s blog post head to: Gardening for Wildlife-Hedgehog

Also available to find on Kayla’s Instagram account, https://www.instagram.com/wildgarden_ecology/and blog website: https://linktr.ee/wildgarden_ecology

The points that are focused on line up with our main focuses, on spreading awareness of actions that can be taken to provide for hedgehogs and protect them. In future HFC events we hope to address these issues and look at what can be done to help hedgehogs in more detail and on campus and in your own gardens.

A quick reminder of our official online launch event at 17:30 on Thursday 26th November, including a hedgehog-themed quiz, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes available!

At our launch event we will also be introducing the Big Hog friendly lock-down litter pick, which we have added the university to. Hedgehogs are covered in thousands of spines, making them vulnerable to becoming trapped in litter. Unfortunately, many hedgehogs die every year because of this. Taking part in the competition will clean up your community and save lots of animals. For further details about the event and how to take part head to our Facebook page and come along to our launch event.

 

 

 

 

Keep an eye on our blog posts and social media channels for the campaigns progress and information and advice about hedgehogs.