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Sustainability

One of the great joys of Spotlight on Biodiversity month has been meeting staff from across the University who are doing their bit to protect nature. Over the next few months we will introduce you to some of these individuals and let you know how you too can get involved in nature conservation. The first of our profiles is of Sarah Beadle from the Research Operations Office. Sarah has turned her love for hedgehogs into action as she volunteers with Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Society. Sarah is keen that we all do our bit to create a habitat for the species that is often referred to as the Gardener's Friend.

Here is Sarah’s story and her top tips for hedgehog protection:

My name is Sarah Beadle and I work in the Research Operations Office. During the week, I negotiate research contracts for the School of Physical Sciences, but every weekend I volunteer in a Hedgehog Hospital run by Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity (SWCC). The hospital treats and rehabilitates sick, injured and/or orphaned hedgehogs before releasing them back into the wild.

My involvement with SWCC started back in 2012. After spotting an ad in my local newspaper asking for volunteers, I went along and, after learning of the plight of hedgehogs I never really left. Hedgehog numbers are sadly in decline, with statistics suggesting that a quarter of the British hedgehog population has been lost in just the last decade!

My job in the Hedgehog Hospital usually consists of animal husbandry – weighing, feeding and checking the hedgehogs’ health; cleaning the holding boxes; and (less glamorously) collecting poo samples for scientific analysis – though I sometimes also get to participate in outreach, awareness and fundraising events. It is a real privilege to work with these animals and incredibly rewarding to see them recover and get returned to their natural habitat.

There are many websites that provide information on how to help hedgehogs. Here are my top ten actions:

1) Have CD-sized gaps in boundary fences and walls to allow for hedgehog to pass through gardens. Encourage your neighbours to do the same to make a ‘hedgehog highway’.

2) Check areas carefully before mowing or strimming.

3) Provide a shallow dish of food (wet and/or dry, non-gravy or fish-based dog and cat food) and water (NO MILK) for hungry hedgehogs.

4) Stop or reduce the amount of garden pesticides/poisons that you use – or, even better, create a wildlife garden.

5) Don’t litter – every year, hedgehogs get injured and/or starve by getting trapped in discarded rubbish.

6) Watch out for hedgehogs whilst driving, especially on country lanes at night.

7) Check bonfires and accumulated garden rubbish before setting fire to them – these make tempting homes for hedgehogs.

8) Put ramps in ponds/pools to provide escape routes for hedgehogs.

9) Keep an eye on your pets – dogs and cats can injure hedgehogs (especially juveniles who can’t fully curl to protect themselves).

10) Make or buy a hedgehog home.

If you find a hedgehog that you are concerned about:

  • Carefully collect it (use gardening gloves or a fold-up towel); don’t attempt to clean or treat any obvious wounds
  • Put it in a high-sided box with an old towel in the bottom that it can hide under
  • Offer it meaty cat/dog food and fresh water
  • Put the box somewhere quiet, which is also out of reach for pets and small children
  • Call a helpline such as SWCC (07505 651968) or the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (01584 890 801); if the animal is obviously injured or otherwise in a bad way, bring it to your local vet.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity

British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Hedgehog Street

People’s Trust for Endangered Species