A local fencing company has teamed up with Wild Things Keyworth, for a huge push to install Hedgehog Highways across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire at the point of installation.
Bowes Fencing and Landscaping have committed to ‘do their part’ in helping hedgehogs to keep moving and wish to incentivise householders to choose hedgehog highways when they opt for fences.
For the remainder of 2024, Bowes Fencing and Installation who operate in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will offer £25 and £50 discounts on installations if householders choose to have hedgehog highways and commit to keep gaps open for hedgehogs.
Wild Things Keyworth will also provide a BHPS* green plaque to go above the gap which is a promise to keep the space open and accessible for hedgehogs on-going.
Jennifer Manning-Ohren founder of Wild Things Keyworth said: “We’re delighted that this forward thinking fencing company is getting on the front foot to help wildlife.”
“By offering discount upfront, this introduces the idea of ‘hedgehog friendly’ options and helps customers recognise the needs of our iconic spiny mammal, the wild British hedgehog.
“Usually active from dusk ’til dawn, hedgehogs are in serious decline in this country and we can help them by improving and maintaining their access and natural habitat.
“Having a mixture of long and short natural grass in the garden, hedgerow, trees, fallen leaves, log piles and shallow water points are some of the major things we can do to help. Stopping the use of pesticides will also help a variety of wildlife.“
“One of the many issues for hedgehogs is when gardens get fenced off to all sides, so they are unable to do their usual mile a night walks, for food, water, nesting, foraging and hibernating options and of course meeting mates.
“Free circulation is something they’ve been able to do for millions of years and our gardens now act as a shared network of support for them to live out their lives healthily.”
“If their usual hedgehog routes get fenced off by us with no access points, it contributes to the decline in their numbers.”
Jennifer continued: “The figures for hedgehogs are alarming. There are now under one million hedgehogs in the U.K. down from an estimated 30 million seventy years ago, which is a massive decline in a short space of time.”
“As we know, hedgehogs need hedgerow and wild areas of the garden as a priority, but where there is fencing, if we can make the vital passing points at the point of installation so much the better.
What WTK volunteers have been doing since 2020 is retrofitting existing fences with gaps, which continues, but ideally this would all happen upfront with companies like Bowes.”
“Linking up with Bowes in their efforts to encourage others, be it households or other fencing companies, to think about hedgehogs and their needs, is a foot in the door for hedgehogs to get to their natural green areas.”
“We’re delighted for the hedgehogs and delighted by Bowes’ proactive and positive approach and hope to see people come forward.”
*BHPS – British Hedgehog Preservation Society
