Four stories today that lift my spirits. Something here for everyone. The work of a child, an adult and an organisation - each achieving things I would not have imagined possible only a couple of years ago.
First up is a 12 year old boy from Wellingborough called Harrison who loves hedgehogs. An aside if you will forgive me, I rather love the fact it is someone called Harrison - as there is an argument to be made (I know - also, son of Harry) for its connection to hedgehog - as the French for hedgehog is herrison!
Harrison was concerned about the erection of security gates and the clearing of back allies where he lives. This was a project started by the Police and Crime Commissioner to spruce up and protect the neighbourhood. What Harrison realised was that the gates could obstruct hedgehog movement, and the areas to be cleared included overgrown patches which could have be homes for hedgehogs. So - he did what so many of you are getting good at! He wrote a letter - and got assurances. The gates were hedgehog friendly and the contractors doing the clearing were careful, and found two hedgehogs (which were carefully moved and released).
Number two - the other end of the scale - Taylor Wimpey have now joined forces with Hedgehog Street and have committed to installing Hedgehog Highways in their new developments (alongside other wildlife enhancements). Ian Heasman, Director of Sustainability from Taylor Wimpey told the BHPS, “We are excited to be working with Hedgehog Street to help protect this important native species. Through our environment strategy, we want to help nature to find a home on our housing development sites and adding hedgehog highways to our sites is an important step.”
Next is a slow burn - Sanctuary Housing are one of the largest social landlords in the country - they provide affordable and social housing. I met with them first back in 2018 - they seemed keen, but to get a large company to change is no easy task. Then Grace from the Hedgehog Street campaign got involved as well - and then there was covid, and everything went quiet. But this week Sanctuary have announced that they will be installing hedgehog highways in all their new builds - around 1,500 a year.
Finally, the wonderfully determined Gill Dixon. She lives near Howden in Yorkshire. The small town has had over 1000 new homes planned for it, and she was worried that, while the officially protected species would get attention, the hedgehogs are only partially protected.
There are three developers - she called in to the site office of Harron Homes, prepared to argue her case for hedgehogs, and found that they had already designed in hedgehog highways! Next was Bellway Homes. First connections were positive - lots of good words were used - but nothing happened. So Gill did that thing … she persisted, polite letters - with accompanying information - and after some time of getting no response she broke through and now has a commitment from Bellway to install hedgehog highways. Final developer was Lovell Homes. A highway had not been included in the original plans. Gill is no shrinking violet - first letter was to the CEO of the company. And the very next day … the Development Manager got in touch with Gill and holes will be made in all boundary fences.
In our position as campaigners it can feel like we spend a lot of time shouting to be heard above the noise (thanks Chris Packham for introducing me to this noisy song!) - maybe we should take a moment now to speak more quietly and thank those who have been wiling to be turned by the polite persistence of you wonderful people! I have included links to the companies just in case any of you feel like following that up.
For more nonsense from me, track me down on social media - @hedgehoghugh. Instagram is mostly pictures of nature, Twitter a little odd and occasionally grumpy!
Photograph is just to remind you of the hope of spring ...