I've just found a leaflet 'The last hedgehog in Derbyshire?' issued by Love Derbyshire, Love Wildlife, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.


"Snuffling in the hedgerows, scurrying across the back lawn. Hedgehogs have fascinated and inspired us for generations.  But ask yourself a question; When was the last time you saw one?  Only one in five people in the UK has ever seen a hedgehog in their garden, and no wonder.

Sadly, the hedgehog is declining rapidly. We've lost 95% of our hedgehogs since the 1950s, and some people say they're disappearing faster than the tiger.  If we don't do something now, this lovable, secretive creature will vanish for ever.

There are lots of reasons why the hedgehog is disappearing so rapidly.  Pastures and fields that used to provide food and shelter have been ploughed up.  Hedgerows have been removed to create larger fields. Pesticides have killed off insects and often kill hedgehogs too.  Even our own British gardens are contributing to the decline, as we're making them just too tidy for the shelter-loving hedgehog. 

But there is something we can do.  With your help, this could be a story with a happy ending.

Hedgehogs flourish in landscapes like this .....

• Woodlands and meadows to forage in
• Gardens that are easy to wander through on the search for food.
• Hedgerows for shelter that link habitats.
• Plenty of insects and slugs to feed on.

...... But this is what hedgehogs face today:

• Roads that divide habitats and put hedgehogs at risk
• Impenetratable gardens with high fences and walls
• Patios, concrete and gravel, with no space for insects to live.
• Fewer insects and invertebrates, illed by pesticides.
• Gadens laden with slug pellets.
• 50% of hedgerows lost in the last 60 years.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust believes that this doesn't have to be the end of the story for hedgehogs in Derbyshire.

We know that, given the right conditions, wildlife can bounce back from adversity.  A landscape with healthy, joined-up wildlife habitats is the essential first step.

We can save Derbyshire's hedgehogs. But we can't do it alone.  to succeed, we need your support now more than ever."

What they would like is donations, so that they can, for instance:

1. pay towards the management of Derbyshire woodland edge habitat to benefit hedgehogs.
2. pay towards their work with Derbyshire schools to inspire children by creating hedgehog friendly habitats with them.
3. pay towards spreading the word throughout Derbyshire on making gardens more hedgehog friendly.

See: http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/species/hedgehog


See also, 'The hedgehog friendly garden': http://thehedgehog.co.uk/how-to-help-hedgehogs/garden/


Event - 23 October - Wildlife Gardening Workshop.  
"join us to make a hedgehog hibernation home and find out what else we can do in our gardens to help hibernating animals over winter.

At Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station, DE4 3PT

Booking is essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188
see: 1025: http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2015/10/23/wildlife-gardening-workshop-helping-hedgehog