UWE Bristol is now a silver-accredited Hedgehog Friendly Campus. We're so pleased to say that a fantastic team of students, alongside the Grounds Team and The Students' Union representatives, and volunteer staff from across the University have achieved this. They have upgraded UWE Bristol from Bronze to Silver in our Hedgehog Friendly Campus certification!

Hedgehogs are officially listed as 'Vulnerable to Extinction in Britain, and here's what the UWE Bristol team have been doing to change that:

• Further reduced use of sprays to increase the number of chemical-free areas.
• Engaged with the local community to promote and expand the area covered by hedgehog-friendly procedures.
• Installed ‘hedgehog ramps’ to help these creatures get in and out of ponds.
• Expanded the number of log piles, potential habitat areas, and hedgehog-friendly plant and wildflower species.

Cat Baker, a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation student has also written a blog about hedgehogs and their involvement in Hedgehog Friendly campus.

Vanique Kruger, Hedgehog Friendly Ambassador, and elected Sustainability Officer commented:

“Getting involved with UWE Bristol’s aim of achieving the Silver Award has encouraged me as a student to pay closer attention to what we can do at university, but also at home. Taking a Sunday stroll on campus has me paying closer to hedgehog ramps, and possible hideaways. I am now even keeping fingers crossed for maybe see a hedgehog friend around campus!”

Jane Garrihy, one of our reception team, reflects on being part of the project:

“I have read that hedgehog numbers are dwindling, but I have also seen that people are becoming aware and coming to their aid. I read that whole streets here in Bristol are making themselves into hedgehog highways by putting holes in their fence or walls so that the hogs can snuffle their way from garden to garden without having to divert onto a road. I was pleased to see that messy gardens are best, the wilder the better."

"Messy garden - Now, this I can really get on board with! I’ve also found out that putting out a pile of sticks or leaves is good as it could become a little shelter for them and will also attract their preferred diet of bugs and insects. I will make sure, come the summer if I think about having a bonfire I will have a quick peep inside the pile of logs to make sure there are no snoozing hogs inside!”

Thank you to all students and staff who are involved in this project for your hard work and passion to protect hedgehogs.