Volunteers are looking to create a ‘hedgehog highway’

WOULD you allow a hole to be drilled into your garden fence to promote Hampstead Heath’s hedgehog population?

Organisations Growing Green and Heath Hands are on a mission to create a “hedgehog highway” between the Heath and Highgate Cemetery to support a large population of the spiky, small-nosed mammals.

Claudia Kretzschmar and Ricky Jefferson from Wood That Works making the holes

To do this, they are offering to drill a small hole in fences of residents living at the Holly Lodge estate – where two founders of Growing Green, Capucine Schegin and Claudia Kretzschmar, live – to allow the hogs to travel safely between the green spaces.

Amandine Alexandre from Growing Green told the New Journal: “There are 100 hedgehogs which is the biggest population of hedgehogs in London. Cemeteries are good for hedgehogs because they’re quite biodiverse.

“We want to try to increase the population because they’re one of those species which are under threat. The population has taken a dive over the last 40 to 50 years. It’s a lack of habitats. They don’t have anywhere to go so they end up on the roads and being run over by cars.”

In 2020, hedgehogs were added to the red list of mammals which are vulnerable to extinction in the UK. However, hedgehogs have become well established in urban environments and can surprisingly thrive in cities.

Fragmented habitats are the biggest issue for hedgehogs in cities, as populations cannot spread which can lead to inbreeding.

Ms Schegin said: “Hedgehogs were once a common sight in the UK, and the idea of supporting their recovery fills us with such excitement. Cutting out holes in fences is a very helpful and very easy way to let hedgehogs roam free.”

Heath Hands and Growing Green have also created “rescue boxes” for hedgehogs that residents can use.

The kits include cat food, a hot water bottle, a towel, gloves for picking up the spiny animals and small dishes for food and water.

Ms Alexandre said: “Unfortunately it’s quite common that they get injured by people who can’t see them and are using gardening tools. I live in Brent. I saw someone reporting that three hogs were found dead recently, two of them were victims of people cutting them with shears.”