Walsall College declared hedgehog friendly campus

Hedgehogs are officially welcome at Walsall College.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) has presented students and staff with a Bronze Award in recognition of their efforts to support and help care for hedgehogs, which are classed as an endangered species.

Achieving the award was a cross-college initiative.  It involved students making wooden hedgehog houses for the garden of the main Wisemore Campus, where the animals can now find refuge at any time of year.

Lecturer, Kelly Bunce led on the college’s activities.

“The Bronze Award is a wonderful achievement for our work to create a safe haven for these vulnerable animals,” she said.  “It’s inspiring to see our college community come together to help protect biodiversity and make a positive difference to our natural environment.”

A Hedgehog Preservation event also took place, raising £327 to support the cause.

The Learning Resource Centre team sold paper hedgehogs made by students using recycled paper.  Art and design students sold hedgehog-decorated mugs and tote bags designed and printed in the college’s Digital Innovation Hub while hospitality students sold hedgehog-shaped cakes and biscuits.

Early years students supported this event and other activities in the garden such as litter picking.

Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a national accreditation programme funded in part by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and delivered by Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK).

Senior Project Manager at BHPS, Jo Wilkinson, added: “Hedgehogs have declined by up to 30-75% in rural areas since just the year 2000, and are beginning to stabilise in urban areas after a period of rapid decline. They are now vulnerable to extinction in Britain, due to things like habitat loss, development, roads and garden hazards.

“Campuses, whether they’re urban or rural, can do great things to help hedgehogs and raise awareness of their plight.”

A nature camera has recently been added to one of the Hedgehog Houses so that the college can monitor the movements of any visiting hedgehogs and ensure they have everything they need to be comfortable when residing there.