Hedgehog Murals Installed in Stratford Park to Raise Awareness for Hedgehog Week

Welcome! If you’ve scanned a QR code from our Hedgehog Murals in Stratford Park, you’ve arrived just in time for Hedgehog Awareness Week (May 3rd-9th). British hedgehogs are currently vulnerable to extinction and really need our help. If our street art has inspired you to take action, read on for a list of expert tips to help look after the beloved critters.

This campaign was coordinated by Help A Hedgehog Hospital, which has been run by former Vet Nurse Annie Parfitt since 2008.  Our mission is to increase hedgehog awareness in Stratford Park, Stroud and the surrounding 5 valleys. Special thanks to Stratford Park for allowing us to display the mural.

[Images added soon]

Hedgehog Friendly Gardens

• Create a Hedgehog Highway: Cut a 13cm x 13cm hole at the bottom of your fences to allow hedgehogs to forage and move between gardens. More info on Hedgehog Street
• Install Pond Ramps: Use a plank of wood wrapped in chicken wire or a pile of stones to create a ramp to climb out of a pond. More info on SeagoMac Wildlife
• Keep Drains Covered: Cover up all drains and gullies so hedgehogs don’t fall in and become trapped. More info on Grace the Hedgehog
• Provide a Hedgehog House: Make or buy a hedgehog house so they can hibernate during the winter and nest during summer. Hedgehog houses can be made out of wood (Little Silver Hedgehog), bricks or even plastic storage boxes (Wildlife Gadget Man),

Feeding Hedgehogs

• Provide Fresh Water: Leave out a shallow dish of water.  In an IloveMCR interview, Barbara Roberts @ Withington Hedgehog Hospital advises putting a ping pong ball in the water dish during winter to stop it from freezing.
• Provide Food: Leave out cat food or specific hedgehog biscuits. Avoid mealworms, as they can cause disease. More info on Hedgehog Street
• Maintain Hygiene: Clean feeding dishes daily to prevent the spread of Salmonella. More info on RSPCA

Hedgehog-Conscious Gardening

• Stop Using Chemicals: Stop using slug pellets, pesticides, and herbicides, which poison hedgehogs and kill their food source.  Use natural pesticides or, even better, let the Hedgehogs do the job for you.  More info on Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
• Leave a “Wild Corner”: Allow an area to grow long grass and brambles to attract natural food sources like beetles. More info on Hedgehog Street
• Create Log & Leaf Pile: Pile up logs and dead wood, fallen leaves to provide nesting materials. More info on Little Silver Hedgehog
• Check Before Strimming: Check long grass or overgrown corners before cutting the lawn in case a hedgehog is hiding, and avoid fatal injuries.
• Lift Netting: Keep garden netting at least 30cm off the ground to prevent hedgehogs from becoming tangled.

Remove Hedgehog Hazards

• Check Bonfires: Thoroughly check bonfires on the day you light them or move the pile to a new spot to ensure hedgehogs are not hiding inside. More info on Avon Wildlife Trust
• Road Awareness: At night, slow down on residential and country roads to keep an eye out for Hedgehogs crossing. More info on Goring Parish Council Guidance
• Safe Litter Disposal: Cut plastic multi-pack rings and ensure cans and yoghurt pots are crushed before recycling. More info on BHPS

Get More Involved

• Map Your Sightings: Record your hedgehog sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map to help researchers. More info on Hedgehog Street
• Become a Champion: Sign up to receive resources to educate your neighbours and promote hedgehog-friendly fencing. More info on PTES

About ‘Hedgehog Awareness Week’

Hedgehog Awareness Week (May 3rd-9th) has evolved into a vital conservation event focused on protecting Britain’s native hedgehog, which is currently in decline. The week is used to encourage “hedgehog-friendly” gardening, such as creating “Hedgehog Highways” (small holes in fences) and leaving out shallow dishes of water and meaty cat food.

Hedgehog Survival Facts

The following facts and figures highlight the severity of their decline:

• Vulnerable to Extinction: In 2020, the hedgehog was officially added to the IUCN Red List, marking a critical turning point for the species.
• 97% Population Drop: UK numbers have plummeted from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to just 1 million today. State of Britain’s Hedgehogs (British Hedgehog Preservation Society / PTES)
• Road Mortality: Between 167,000 and 335,000 hedgehogs are killed on British roads annually, making garden safety and connectivity even more essential. Hedgehog Street

Stratford Park Mural Images

[Images added soon]

Contact Us

For more information about this initiative or to donate to Help a Hedgehog Hospital

• Annie: 07867 974 525 / [email protected]
• Please click on the following link if you would like to donate