Could your house be on 'Britain's Biggest Hedgehog Street'?

The idea is simple: become a ‘Hedgehog Champion’ and connect as many gardens as possible via ‘Hedgehog Highways’ - a 13cm or CD case sized square gap under garden fences or walls and then submit your entry online.

The highest number of gardens linked will be crowned ‘Britain’s Biggest Hedgehog Street’, with prizes including special Hedgehog Highway plaques and a hamper packed with hedgehog-themed goodies.

Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer, Hedgehog Street said: “Hedgehogs are a much-loved native species, and helping them, particularly in urban areas, is easy and affordable.

"We want to encourage people to get creative this summer – think about front and back gardens, as a street with five houses on could be part of a 20-garden ‘Hedgehog Street’.

"Tunnels could join gardens, or ramps can be placed between gardens on different levels. We know gardens can be havens for hedgehogs, but only if they’re connected to let hedgehogs in and out.”

Hedgehogs were listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ on the Red List for Britain’s Mammals 2020 and earlier this year BHPS and PTES published the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report which revealed that hedgehog populations have continued to decline in rural areas nationally since 2000, with some areas experiencing a loss of up to 75 per cent.

Thankfully, the picture is more positive in urban areas, with some populations even appearing to be recovering.

The reasons for the decline are complex, but two of the main pressures hedgehogs face in both rural and urban areas are lack of suitable habitat and habitat fragmentation.

Grace added: “We already have over 112,000 amazing Hedgehog Champions across the UK, but more help is always needed.

"We hope lots of people will talk with their neighbours and together help their local hedgehogs this summer.”

The search for ‘Britain’s Biggest Hedgehog Street’ will run over the summer holidays until Saturday, September 10.

Throughout the summer, PTES and BHPS will be sharing hints, tips and examples on their social media channels, where the winner will be announced at the end of September.

To find out more, or to enter your Hedgehog Street CLICK HERE.

Video credit: Davina Munday and Marilyn Maybury.