The first ever National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy has been published by leading wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS).

The strategy has been created in response to trends highlighted in the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report, also published by BHPS and PTES, which revealed that native hedgehogs have declined by between 30-75% in rural areas since 2000. To tackle this ongoing decline, BHPS and PTES have worked collaboratively with over 30 leading conservation NGOs (including Suffolk Wildlife Trust), academics, educational institutions, hedgehog rehabilitators and organisations within the transport and farming sectors*, to create a top-line, national strategy that can guide the change that’s desperately needed.

The strategy has been designed for conservation NGOs, local councils, farmers, land managers and Government. It highlights the factors causing a decline in native hedgehog populations which urgently need addressing over the coming decade in order to halt the decline and restore numbers in rural and urban Britain. It was developed through a collaborative process facilitated by the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission. The CPSG has supported governments, NGOs, and civil society groups worldwide for more than 40 years, designing and facilitating strategies to recover threatened species. 

The process to develop the National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy brought together experts to identify key threats - including habitat fragmentation and a decrease in natural invertebrate prey – and how to overcome them. The strategy will evolve as new research findings become available and will act as a framework and reference point for all actions relating to hedgehogs in Britain. It also complements the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, launched earlier this year by BHPS and PTES, which will provide invaluable data on population changes at a local and national level.

Nida Al-Fulaij, Co-Author of the National Conservation Strategy and CEO of People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) explains: “By identifying the key threats hedgehogs are facing and how they are all connected, we can better understand the actions needed to address them; but we can’t do this alone. The National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy acts as a framework for collaboration between policymakers, conservationists, landowners, rehabilitators and communities. Coordinated efforts nationally, regionally and locally are the only way we can achieve our ambition of halting the decline in hedgehogs, and ensuring that this iconic native species becomes a common sight in our towns and countryside once again.”

Fay Vass, CEO of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) added: “This strategy is a real moment for hedgehog conservation, as we look ahead to another decade where together we can make real change. We hope that the National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy will strengthen existing and ongoing conservation efforts, that industries such as transport, housing development and farming scale-up their conservation work with hedgehogs in mind, and that more people are inspired to help in their own gardens and green spaces. By 2034, I hope the future for our hedgehogs is significantly brighter.”

Grace Johnson, Co-Author of the National Conservation Strategy and Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street (a campaign between PTES and BHPS) said: “Encouragingly, the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report (published by BHPS and PTES) indicated that, whilst rural hedgehog populations are still in decline, hedgehogs in urban areas may be starting to recover, likely thanks to our amazing Hedgehog Champions and the wider public who have made their gardens and local green spaces hedgehog havens. We need this urban recovery to continue, but we also need to see this positive trajectory take place in the countryside too and we hope that by working together we can achieve that.”

While the new strategy is designed for conservation NGOs, local councils, farmers, land managers and Government, there are numerous ways members of the public can continue to help hedgehogs – especially as autumn sets in and they look ahead to hibernation. 

For those with a garden, creating 13cm x 13cm square holes in or under a garden fence – known as Hedgehog Highways – to connect neighbouring gardens, is the best starting point. This is crucial as it allows hedgehogs, which are nocturnal, to move between green spaces searching for food, shelter and mates. Once connected, creating wild patches, providing water and places to nest such as leaf and log piles or a hedgehog house, are all great ways to help. And, as autumn draws in, it’s paramount to check for hedgehogs before lighting any bonfires or before mowing or strimming the garden. These actions will help to address key threats identified in the new strategy at a local level.

Those without a garden can help too. Contact local councils and developers to highlight the importance of managing public green spaces for hedgehogs and ask that new-build sites are hedgehog friendly. Raising awareness of the urgent need to help hedgehogs by sharing PTES and BHPS’ guidance and social media posts, and talking with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about ways they can help hedgehogs, will be invaluable. Becoming a volunteer ‘spotter’ for the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which can be done from your own home, is a great way to help too.

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*Stakeholders involved in creating the National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy include: 

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS), British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (BWRC), Forestry Commission England, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Gower Bird Hospital, Hartpury University, Hedgehog Friendly Campus, idverde, Institute of Zoology, Institute of Zoology - Garden Wildlife Health project, IUCN SSC CPSG, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Mammal Society, National Farmers’ Union, National Highways, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Nature Friendly Farming Network, NatureScot, Network Rail, Nottingham Trent University, People's Trust for Endangered Species, Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Taylor Wimpey, University of Cambridge/ Conservation Evidence, University of Oxford Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Aalborg University (Denmark).