West London Hedgehog Highway to Begin in Ealing
ZSL launches initiative with Ealing Wildlife Group to stave off local extinction
CD sized holes in fences allow hedgehogs to find food and mates
April 12, 2023
A new network of Hedgehog Highways is to be created in west London in an attempt to stave off their extinction in the local area.
The initiative is being led across London by The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the charity that runs London Zoo. It is working locally in partnership with the Ealing Wildlife Group which is making CD-sized holes in fences across Hanwell and Pitshanger and plans to extend the project further in the Borough of Ealing.
London’s hedgehog population has been in sharp decline to the extent that it is now classed as Vulnerable to Extinction.
To address a major cause of the decline, Ealing Wildlife Group Created with the permission of fence owners, Hedgehog Highways make it easier for hedgehogs to find food and a mate.
The joint project will use cameras to survey existing hedgehog populations, create new hedgehog habitats and educate residents about how they can help the species.
ZSL’s London HogWatch Project Manager, Kate Scott-Gatty said, “Our survey shows that gardens and allotments are particularly important habitats for hedgehogs in Ealing and connecting them is critical for their long-term survival in the area.”
Ealing Wildlife Group Chair, Sean McCormack said, “We’re delighted with the success of our project’s first phase in Hanwell and now really need help to roll out Hedgehog Highways across the borough. Improving and connecting hedgehog habitats will help lots of other wildlife species and give our Ealing community the chance to discover the value of protecting nature and green spaces.”
Holes are being created in fences with the permission of landowners
Ealing Wildlife Group is staffed entirely by volunteers who will use trail cameras to identify existing hedgehog populations that can be connected by Hedgehog Highways. Extra funding will be used to purchase drilling equipment, create new habitats and deliver education campaigns in schools, communities and parks in Acton, Northolt and Southall. To donate to the initiative click here.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |