Myerscough campuses earn gold standard ‘Hedgehog Friendly Campus’ status

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus scheme aims to raise awareness of the plight of the hedgehog, while taking practical steps to improve habitats and circumstances for hedgehogs across education campuses.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus project is funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and runs nationally.

The idea of a Hedgehog Friendly Campus began at Sheffield University in 2018, and in recent years, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society funded a national roll-out.

The campaign offers Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of accreditation, by undergoing activities including surveys, building hedgehog houses, hedgehog decline awareness, rescue, and fundraising.

Hedgehogs are officially listed as vulnerable to extinction on Britain’s IUCN Red List, and have declined around 50% in rural areas and 30% in urban areas in the last twenty years.

The way green space is managed can have a big impact on the survival of hedgehogs, making the Myerscough campus ideal to be considered or such status.

Click here to view the full range of Animal Studies programmes available at Myerscough College and University Centre at school leaver and degree level

HE Animal Studies lecturer Frankie Kerridge said: ‘’I am hugely proud to announce we have achieved the gold award for our Hedgehog Friendly Campuses!  This included not only making our campus areas welcoming and safe for hedgehogs but our efforts to involve the local community in making safe spaces for hedgehogs to thrive.

‘’Thanks to all the people who helped us achieve the award - students, staff, senior managers, local people and youth groups by campaigning, donating, surveying, making posters, running, studying, training and researching, releasing and monitoring all to make Warrington, Croxteth and Preston campuses and local areas safer and to support our local rescues. We couldn't have done it without you.’’