The State of Britain\u2019s Hedgehogs 2022<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>report uses data collected from five ongoing surveys* between 1981 and 2020. It showed that while rural hedgehogs are still in trouble, those living in urban populations seem to have stabilised and may even be starting to recover from previous drops.<\/p>\n Both charities agree that urgent action is now required to bring the hedgehogs back to the countryside.<\/p>\n Fay Vass, CEO of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), said: \u201cHedgehogs as we know them today have lived here for at least half a million years, but they\u2019re now facing myriad pressures which are causing populations to plummet, particularly in the rural landscape. The reasons for their decline are complex and aren\u2019t yet fully understood, but two of the main pressures hedgehogs face in both rural and urban areas is lack of suitable habitat and habitat fragmentation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreater awareness, and individual and community actions, such as making gardens more hedgehog friendly, may be starting to help urban hedgehogs. However, urgent action is needed to understand why rural areas are no longer suitable for hedgehogs, and how conservationists, farmers and land managers can work together to prevent hedgehogs from becoming extinct in the countryside.\u201d<\/p>\n The most apparent losses to hedgehog populations appear to be in the East Midlands and the East of England regions, however, more research is needed to better understand these results across the wider UK.<\/p>\n David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator at PTES, said: \u201cLoss of landscape features such as hedgerows is partly responsible for the decline, but not fully, as recent efforts have been made to restore and improve them. We know from research, funded by PTES, BHPS and others over the last decade, that hedgehogs prefer villages to open farmland, and follow field margins and hedgerows. Understanding how hedgehogs use and move through the landscape is a big step forward, but more work is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe now need to look at the wider management of farmland and field margins, how the invertebrate species that hedgehogs eat are faring, the impact of climate change, and how connected the wider landscape is. Once we know the full facts, we can start to help rural hedgehogs to recover.\u201d<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Many farmers and land managers have already made positive changes to benefit wildlife, such as creating wildflower verges and hedgerows to help connect wildlife areas. However, the PTES and BHPS believe more action is needed, and so are launching the Great British Hedgerow Survey<\/em> to promote the importance of healthy hedgerows, are seeking to engage with government consultations about sustainable farming and landscape recovery<\/a>, and plan to set up a national monitoring programme.<\/p>\n A Farmer\u2019s Advice booklet is available from the PTES for free download<\/a>.<\/p>\n In cities, towns and villages, the decline seems to have halted, despite high levels of road mortality. It is thought that connected green spaces are helping support populations within urban environments.<\/p>\n![\""adult\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Getty_Hedgehog-9b17ec2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C470"\" "\\"\"adult\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Igloo\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/01\/Igloo-Hedgehog-House-91684a9.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Igloo\\"\/")
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