Young Voices for Hedgehog Conservation

Local schoolchildren have been putting their creativity to work to help protect one of the UK’s most-loved garden visitors.

As part of Totton and Eling Town Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting local wildlife, primary school children were invited to take part in a hedgehog poster competition. The competition aimed to raise awareness and encourage the next generation to play an active role in protecting local wildlife.

We are delighted to showcase three winning entries, created by talented Reception-aged children.

The winners received a selection of wildlife-friendly prizes, including a hedgehog home, bug hotel and hedgehog gateways, helping them to create more welcoming spaces for nature in their own gardens.

The Council would like to thank all the children who took part in the competition. The entries demonstrated impressive creativity and a genuine passion for wildlife, highlighting the enthusiasm for nature that exists within our young community.

How You Can Help Hedgehogs Thrive

Hedgehogs have experienced significant declines in recent years, but there are simple steps residents can take to make a difference:

• Create a hedgehog highway by making small gaps in fences to allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens
• Leave areas of your garden wild to provide shelter and natural food sources.
• Put out shallow dishes of fresh water, particularly during dry weather.
• Avoid using pesticides and chemicals, which reduce the number of insects hedgehogs rely on for food.
• Check carefully before strimming, mowing long grass or lighting bonfires where hedgehogs may be sheltering.

By working together, we can help make Totton and Eling a safer and more welcoming place for hedgehogs and other local wildlife.

Collect your FREE hedgehog highway gate from the Civic Centre while supplies last.

Together, we can help local hedgehogs thrive. 🦔🌿