Back in June, in an article in Moreton Hall Directory, you were invited to record your hedgehog sightings on Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s website. One hundred and twenty three records of hedgehogs have now been made in Moreton Hall, with records coming from across the whole housing estate. Some records were of happy adults going about their business, but others were of too-small-to-hibernate youngsters in winter, or of dead hedgehogs in the road. It’s hard to tell how numbers have changed, but in the late 1990s one could drive round after dusk in summer or autumn and see numerous hedgehogs on any of the wider road verges across Moreton Hall. This autumn the same activity resulted in rarely seeing a hedgehog. Where have they gone?
Undoubtedly the expansion of housing into countryside will have an eect, and increasing traffic y have increased mortality above the replacement rate. But other, more subtle, factors might make a difference. Is your garden very tidy, with no long grass, piles of leaves, compost heap or vegetable patch for hedgehogs to feed? Or are your fences well built and there’s nowhere for a hedgehog to get in?
To restore the availability of your garden to hedgehogs, dig a hole under your fence, around 13 – 15cm wide and deep, or carefully cut away the bottom of your fence to make the same size hole. If you are worried about cats getting out (or in), a small tunnel such as placing a hollow concrete block in front of the hole will make it very difficultor the cat but easy for the hedgehogs. The total area of gardens is bigger than the area of community woodlands, and every garden counts!
Join us at Woodland Ways…
Why not join in with a Woodland Ways work party to help improve the Moreton Hall woods? No experience is needed and all are welcome; we’ll show you what to do. For more information please see www.woodlandways.org.uk, see the Woodland Ways noticeboard in the Community Centre, contact Nick Sibbett on 01284 723847 or email information@woodlandways.org.uk.
