More than 180 'Hedgehog Highway' frames have been donated to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to help local residents create safe garden habitats for the declining species.
More than 180 special frames designed to help hedgehogs access garden habitats and avoid busy roads have been supplied to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council for use by local residents.
The frames, affectionately known as 'hogways', will be used to create safe passages for the vulnerable animals. They have been kindly donated by the East Yorkshire-based manufacturer Timloc. In an effort to remain environmentally friendly, all of the donated frames are made entirely of recycled and recyclable materials.
The community-driven initiative aims to address a severe and ongoing drop in hedgehog numbers across the country. Once a highly familiar sight in British gardens, hedgehog populations have suffered significantly. Statistics show they have declined by up to seventy-five per cent in rural areas and thirty per cent in towns since the year 2000.
The donated frames are specifically designed to fit securely around small holes in gates and fences. This simple modification enables hedgehogs to travel freely between residential gardens and avoid the severe dangers of crossing busy roads. By linking multiple gardens together into a continuous network, the highways allow hedgehogs to safely access vital daily resources such as food, water, and shelter.
Distribution of the new frames will take place through various local channels to ensure they reach the community. They will be provided to the Molescroft Wildlife Network and the Greener Pocklington groups, who will then share them among local residents. Furthermore, the frames will be made available to the public at the upcoming open day at Tophill Low Nature Reserve, as well as at the popular Driffield Show.
The launch of the local initiative comes alongside National Hedgehog Awareness Week, which runs from Sunday the 3rd to Saturday the 9th of May. The national awareness week encourages residents everywhere to take active, practical steps to support hedgehogs in their own neighbourhoods.
All residents across the East Riding are being actively encouraged to record whenever they see a hedgehog in their garden or local area. Those who already have hogways installed on their properties are also urged to add their locations to the Hedgehog Preservation Society’s Big Hedgehog Map.
Even without the donated frames, residents are encouraged to create their own hogways. This can be achieved by simply cutting hedgehog-sized openings, measuring thirteen by thirteen centimetres, in their gates and fences where a lack of gaps currently excludes the spiny visitors.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council also supports the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Under this wider environmental project, the hedgehog serves as a flagship species for local conservation efforts.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for environment and transport, Councillor Paul West, said:
"We’re delighted to promote the environment in the East Riding, and this is a fantastic way we can play our part to support local wildlife. We encourage all residents to install their own hogways, and log any hedgehogs they see."
For those looking to get involved, residents can log their own hogways or any hedgehog sightings directly on the Big Hedgehog Map website.
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