Do you remember a story about a rather wonderful man - Jonathan Housego? Back in 2020 he took up the challenge when three developers surrounded his Suffolk village of Thurston. Two of them, Linden Homes and Hopkins Homes both agreed to install hedgehog highways without hesitation - which was delightful news. But one, Persimmon, was reluctant.

However, after much gentle and persistent work from Jonathan, they too agreed and I have to say I really felt thrilled. This was a real proof of concept - members of the public, supported by the many many signatures on this petition, are able to make a difference.

And that was it - until I got an email a few weeks ago from Jonathan.

“I Just thought that I would give you an update on the Hedgehog Highways in Thurston in respect of Persimmon Homes. Unfortunately it is not good news I am afraid.

“If you remember they promised me that they would put 75 hedgehog highway holes in their development in Thurston. To cut a long story short the guy I dealt with… had left the firm and I have been repeatably asking them ever since when I could come over and see their Hedgehog Highways and photograph them. I was given various excuses, they were now in peoples gardens and the houses were now sold so I can’t go and see them. But we will be completing some more and that they will let me know when they are ready so that I can come and take photos then.”

He was not giving up though - tenacious should be his middle name.

“I decided my only option was to contact the CEO of Persimmon, Dean Finch.”

This led him in a loop back to the Managing Director of the Suffolk Region who wrote to Jonathan. 

“I would highlight that the ecology report which accompanied the planning submission did not raise the need for any hedgehog highways within the development. However, following your request … it was agreed that we would leave holes in identified fences to allow hedgehogs to move freely through the site."

It is hard to gauge what is going on in a new development, and requests by Jonathan to be allowed to see what was being done were turned down. There is no evidence that the 75 holes have been put in place and the response from Persimmon was so full of its own holes that it is not unreasonable to doubt a highway has been installed.

Also it is interesting that the lack of a need for a highway was mentioned. The fact that an ecologist wrote the report after a site visit on a February morning is, of course, a guarantee that no hedgehogs will be seen (Jonathan has plenty of records from the area). Hedgehogs are mentioned, in passing, saying that they might use the site to be developed, but as there is other habitat of similar quality around this will not be a problem. This shows a lack of awareness of the importance of habitat connectivity.

If hedgehogs were covered under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, their presence could not have been ignored. We have been lobbying and campaigning to try and get this level of protection for hedgehogs, and so far have met with absolutely no support from Government.

I wonder whether this sort of reaction is related to Persimmon calling for BNG to be optional - I saw a report (on Tuesday 7th Feb, in Planning Resource), but it is behind a paywall so no point sharing it. BNG - biodiversity net gain - is just the smallest of impositions on developers - where developers aim to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand.

I do not trust BNG as a way of ensuring wildlife gets a fair chance. We need far more than BNG - we need wildlife to be protected with robust laws that properly penalises anyone who breaks them - and that there should be named individuals for each and every development who would face imprisonment should they fail to meet their obligations.

Wow - that was a bit heavy. Sorry. Now for a little bit of light relief.

Jeff, husband of Hedgehog Highways Facebook Group moderator Rose, got in touch - and cooked up a conspiracy with me to surprise her with a meal out for her birthday. Rose, and Jaqueline, the other moderator, work so hard at keeping the group a safe and friendly space - and I was more than willing to help make it happen.

The squeal of delight from Rose as I walked into room in Peterborough was worth the hours in the car! We had so much fun - nattering for hours - you can see it in the photo. Thank you Jeff for making this happen - and thank you to Rose and Jaqueline for all you do!

If you want to see more of what I get up to - I am @hedgehoghugh on twitter, instagram, buymeacoffee.