Harron Homes has teamed up with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. This autumn we are working to incorporate more ways of protecting hedgehogs at developments, especially as they go into hibernation from October.
This collaboration follows a successful partnership with Butterfly Conservation earlier in the year which resulted in installing butterfly homes on Harron plots to encourage beautiful butterflies to flock to the local area in time for the Big Butterfly Count.
The hedgehog population is declining rapidly in the UK, and they are now officially classified as vulnerable to extinction making this a critical time to get involved in protecting them.
One of the reasons why the hedgehog population is declining is due to fences and walls becoming more secure, reducing the amount of land available to them by fragmenting it into small pockets that aren’t large enough to sustain a population.
To combat this, we have introduced hedgehog highways – small holes in the base of fences to enable hedgehogs to roam freely – to some developments, with a view to including in all future developments.
We have also installed dedicated hedgehog homes in showhome garden for those hedgehogs who decide to stop over and are encouraging others to do the same.
These homes are designed by wildlife experts to offer hedgehogs and other mammals a safe retreat from the many hazards of modern life while being environmentally friendly.
A tutorial from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on how to make a hedgehog home can be found here: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes.
A log pile can also work well as a simple solution for hedgehogs to nest in – it provides shelter and food in the form of bugs and grubs.
Fay Vass, CEO of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society said, “At this time of year, hedgehogs are particularly vulnerable and with the population decreasing they need as much help as possible to stay safe. We really appreciate Harron Homes’ efforts in joining up the landscape on their sites and creating a protective environment in the showhome gardens, it will hopefully encourage more people to actively make space for hedgehogs in their gardens, as well as looking out for them around bonfire night.”
Natalie Griffiths, Marketing and Sales Director at Harron Homes North Midlands said, “At Harron Homes, we’re determined to make not only quality homes for people, but create a beneficial environment for all creatures.
“We’re really glad to contribute a safe space for hibernating hedgehogs in the area, and hope to spot some emerge in the springtime!”