Discover Hedgehogs this half-term

This autumn, we’re encouraging everyone to be on the lookout for hedgehogs in places such as gardens, hedgerows, woodlands, grasslands, parks, and cemeteries.

What’s more, our ‘Action for Nature’ events are kicking off in local parks in the coming weeks and putting hedgehogs front and centre.

These events are just in time for half term and activities and workshops are suitable for all ages.

Families will discover how hedgehogs build a winter shelter by making one of their own, and creating their own hedgehog to take home using natural crafts materials. There will also be heaps of tips and advice on creating hedgehog-friendly neighbourhoods.

Our half-term hedgehog events take place at the following locations:

There are also events planned to help adults learn about hedgehogs and how to help them, and the workshops will build a hedgehog home for a local garden:

Hedgehogs are a familiar species but are sadly in serious trouble, in fact, the UK population has declined by a shocking 50% since 2010.

Here in Waltham Forest, we want to protect them long into the future.

We are running a campaign to raise awareness and gather information about our local hedgehogs. We’re grateful to local people who have already got in touch with vital information about our local population.

‘We want to support local people to learn about hedgehogs’

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality said: “It’s great to see a multitude of workshops and activities on all things hedgehogs taking place in our parks this month.

“We want to support local people to learn much more about our hedgehogs. There are events for all ages and they are part of an ongoing campaign to promote awareness and gather information. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contacted us to report sightings so far.

“The population decline is saddening but our Climate Action Plan is in place to protect a multitude of species, including hedgehogs, and to support green spaces and enhance our biodiversity.”

Top tips to help hedgehogs in your garden:

Make your garden pond hedgehog-safe by adding a ramp or slope
Check for hedgehogs before lighting any bonfires
Cut out pesticides and slug pellets when managing your garden
Put out food and water if hedgehogs are visiting – wet and dry dog/cat food is suitable
Create gaps and holes in the bottom of your fence so hedgehogs can move in and out.

‘I was delighted when I first noticed a hedgehog’

Plenty of residents have already been in contact to let us know about the hedgehogs they have seen on their local patch. Sally from Chingford said: “I was delighted when I first noticed a hedgehog in the garden a few years ago - since then I've been putting out food in a home-made feeding box. The same one or two hedgehogs come most nights, and on one occasion there were three.”

Another local resident, added: “We are happy to report that we saw a hedgehog in our front garden over the summer and have also been seeing female stag beetles which is brilliant too."

Jacks, another local person added: “Providing a water source for our local hedgehogs is vital, as many of the ones that are found are severely dehydrated, access to water is much more restricted with habitat loss.”

Anyone who has seen a hedgehog can email campaigns@walthamforest.gov.uk to report their sighting and send include a photo if you manage to get one.

Please sign up to the Council’s climate action newsletter for regular updates on the campaign.