The State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report has been released. The first report on Britain's hedgehogs was released in 2011.
The State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report has been created by the Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.
The report focuses on researching hedgehogs in Britain to help wildlife conservationists understand the hedgehog population. Understanding the population of hedgehogs in Britain helps wildlife conservationists to understand if the hedgehog population is declining, and where it is declining.
If we understand the hedgehog population within Britain, then, we can be knowledgeable about their population trends. Understanding their population trend is important, as if we know if and where hedgehogs are declining (or increasing) then we can better understand why they are declining.
If we know where in Britain hedgehogs are declining, then it can give us a better insight into what is causing their population to decline.
The State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report, reports on the differences in the populations of Britain's rural hedgehogs and its urban hedgehogs. The report surprisingly finds that Britain's hedgehogs are fairing better in urban areas.
The hedgehog population in rural and urban areas shows a different picture. In urban areas, the hedgehog population is stable. However, a different picture is emerging in rural areas - in rural areas, the hedgehog population is declining and has been declining for the last two decades. Sadly, the rural population of hedgehogs in Britain remains low.
This 2022 report shows that the urban hedgehog population is improving, which is good news. Sadly, there isn't the same hope in rural areas of Britain.
In the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2018 report, it found that the rural hedgehog population in Britain had declined by half; this is alarming news for hedgehogs in the countryside and the 2022 report shows no improvement for rural hedgehogs.
What Can We Do To Help Hedgehogs?
We can help hedgehogs and stop their decline in the UK.
The report highlights three ways that people can help hedgehogs: local action, garden spaces and green spaces. Local action is about helping hedgehogs where you live, perhaps you can get involved in a local wildlife group to help hedgehogs in your area, and if there isn't one, you could start one.
Creating spaces for hedgehogs is crucial to protecting them and ensuring their future. Protecting the natural world and green belt spaces will help hedgehogs and other animals. You can also help hedgehogs in your own home.
You can help hedgehogs in your own home by creating a wildlife-friendly garden. There are millions of gardens across the UK. If these gardens were turned into wildlife-friendly spaces, then we could help animals tremendously.
Here are some tips for creating a wildlife-friendly garden:
. Create a Hedgehog Highway
. Create a mini-meadow
. Create a bug hotel
. Plant trees, hedges, plants and flowers
. Put a hedgehog home in your garden
. Put bird and bat boxes in your garden
. Put bee and butterfly homes in your garden
. Provide hedgehog food, bird food etc
. Create a pond (make sure there is a way for animals to get out if they fall in)
These are some great ways to help hedgehogs and other animals. Since animals in the natural world depend on one another for their survival, helping one animal can help other animals. Creating a wildlife-friendly garden will bring wildlife to your front door and give you lots of joy. It can also help create a healthier environment. Connecting with nature helps with both our physical and mental health.
If we all provide space for nature and wildlife in our gardens and in our hearts, then it will make the world of difference for the world's animals.
If you would like to read the hedgehog report you can find it - here!
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