Lancashire Wildlife Trust says there has been a "massive" decline in the number of hedgehogs.

A council has committed to measures that it has said will help hedgehogs thrive.

They are officially classed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK and were added to the “red list” of Britain’s under-threat mammals in 2020.

South Ribble Council said the Hedgehog Action Plan was about giving them “room to roam” to reduce the number of them killed on the roads.

Ideas included building ramps on ditches and ponds and leaving gaps in hedges and fences.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    “We’re looking at not using pesticides, making sure our fences and hedges have got gaps in and making sure that any water has got ramps so they can get out if they fall in,” she said.

    I’ve been circulating ideas to neighbours about making the area more hedgehog friendly - ramps are a good idea.

    • GreyShuck@feddit.ukOPMEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      Yes, and not only hedgehogs. At my workplace a couple of days ago there was a brown long-eared bat which had unfortunately drowned in a smooth dog-bowl, probably whilst trying to get a drink in the hot weather. We are now making sure that there is a stone kept in the bowl so that any wildlife can get out of the water.

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        Good point - it doesn’t have to be much to be a hazard. I have four hedgehogs and what my home insurance defines as a “large body of water” so I may need to raise my game here. Especially as they aren’t the brightest of creatures - I had to pick one up off the road the other day as it was happily munching on insects with not a care in the world.