Rushcliffe

HEDGEHOGS. Rushcliffe Borough Council is to explore what action it can take to further reduce the threat of extinction of hedgehogs in the Borough.

The Council has noted the alarming decline in the number of the animals nationally and considered ways the authority can nurture habitats to ensure their numbers increase.

The authority is looking at where landscape management practices on land it owns could change so that they are supportive of hedgehogs and their habitat.

It will also look at how it can encourage other agencies, councils and residents in the Borough to follow similar practices, advise its ground maintenance contractors Streetwise of further training and work to influence the creation of more “hedgehog highways”.

Already nationally designated as a priority species due to the decline in populations, the authority’s Planning Team is also considering measures to assist the animals.

The council say that where appropriate, applications for new development which includes any new fencing to garden boundaries may now take hedgehog access into consideration.

Features such as hedgehog corridors and other enhancements may also now be assessed in suitable locations.

It was East Leake Independent Coun. Lesley Way who brought a motion before the Council which was unanimously carried and will be assessed in line with the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change Coun. Abby Brennan said: “This is an important motion and one that will further allow us to focus on where we can play our part in ensuring the threat of extinction is reduced.

“The Environment is a priority for this Council and this means protecting habitats wherever we can especially as our communities grow. We want to address this with residents, groups and developers so they can assess what other measures they can take in line with our Nature Conservation Strategy.”