Ruddington wildlife lovers are being encouraged to take action to protect the red listed mammals – with ‘The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022’ report suggesting numbers have declined by 75% in some parts of our country since the year 2000.
The increased use of fencing between houses, rather than hedges, has been partly blamed. Besides established hedgerows providing a ‘home’ for the spiky creatures, hedgehogs can also travel up to a mile each night through people’s gardens if the activity of humans still makes this possible. They need around a dozen gardens to forage from dusk until dawn and meet mates.
Last month there was a case in Ruddington where a property developer illegally uprooted a long stretch of mature hedgerow and yet escaped any fine. That’s despite, just weeks earlier, Rushcliffe Borough Council promising to take tough action against offenders. Therefore it looks as if it may be down to individual villagers to make a difference! Where fences have been erected, householders are being encouraged to cut out a 13cm gap at ground level to enable hedgehogs to roam between neighbouring gardens and green spaces.
In the wake of Hedgehog Awareness Week last week, and with National Hedgerow Week starting today (8th May 2023), RUDDINGTON.info has teamed up with Wild Things Keyworth to give away a lovely ‘Ruddington Hedgehog Highway’ wood carving (pictured top) to fix across one of these dedicated gaps. Constructed from reclaimed wood, by Simon Dunstan in Wymeswold, with artwork by Liz Waddell of Keyworth, the group’s founder Jennifer Manning-Ohren says she wants it to go somewhere suitable in Ruddington. Whether you’re part of a group, organisation or an individual, if you have (or can create) a dedicated hedgehog gap on your property to allow access for the nocturnal creatures, you’re invited to get in touch.
“Gaps in fences, walls and gates are little doorways to allow hedgehogs to get to the green spaces they need” explains Jenni. “They find them and use them. We know this because we film hedgehogs using them. Unfortunately they can’t climb over fences as some people believe so, to help them, making these gaps opens up access and keeps them moving.”
Please take a photo of where you’d put the ‘Ruddington Hedgehog Highway’, along with a few words explaining why you think yours would be a good location. Jenni will then review all the entries and donate it to whoever in our village she thinks can provide the best place.
Jenni adds: “As an additional gift, we would be happy to make a new gap through concrete, wood or brick in Ruddington as part of this prize – with a view also to help get Ruddington started with their own Hedgehog Highway team.”
Applications are invited until Friday 2nd June 2023 by contacting us >>HERE<< or by messaging/posting your photograph and accompanying text on our RUDDINGTON.info Facebook page. Good luck!
