THE HEDGEHOG CHAMPS
Sonic, Mrs Tiggywinkle and all their real-life friends are guaranteed a warm welcome at Stirling University, thanks to some award-winning students.
This month The Hedgehog Team of the uni’s Environmental Enterprise Society has earned the university a bronze level award for being an official Hedgehog Friendly Campus.
And they are now working towards their silver award, with lots of events planned.
Society president Julia Grootaers, a fourth year student, started the initiative last October to save hedgehogs in the Stirling area - and more specifically on the university campus - by working together with the Hedgehog Friendly Organisation funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
Julia said:“In October I reached out to Hedgehog Friendly Campus, an organisation funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, who are encouraging university campuses all around the UK to become more hedgehog friendly.
“Hedgehogs are officially listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’in Britain due to human activities such as encroachment, roadkill, pesticides, loss of habitat connectivity, plastic pollution and gardening malpractices.
“The Hedgehog Team is determined to change this and transform our campus into a wildlife haven with special attention to our spiky residents. We are a group of more than 25 volunteers from campus and estate services staff, university and union staff to students.
“Through blog writing, campaigning, holding bake-offs and art competitions, talks, litter picks and spreading awareness we have completed all the actions for the bronze award - within four months of founding the team, a feat which usually takes up to a year to do.
“We’ve now got a whole new game plan to reach our silver award, which will include lots of events during Hedgehog Awareness Week from May 2-8.
“People can follow us on our social media to keep up to date with our plans to rewild corners on campus, perform hedgehog surveys and find out what people can do to help the hedgehogs from their own homes.”
More details at www.instagram.com/ uos.hedgehogfriendlycampus/ and https://hedgehogstirling.wixsite.com/ home/ post/15-interesting-facts-abouthedgehogs