Autumn Show & game Fair

south of england show ground, ardingly,

west sussex www.seas.org.uk/

autumn-show hedgehogs are only present in a fifth of our countryside, a study has found. In the first systematic investigation of the animals in rural areas researchers at reading and nottingham universities concluded that there is “something fundamentally wrong with our countryside”.

the number of badger setts was also noted and the scientists found that there was a strong link between hedgehog numbers and the predating badgers. “hedgehog occupancy was worryingly low,” said Ben williams, a phd student at the University of reading and the leader of the survey. “It was just over 22 per cent in the rural landscape.”

the research used footprints left by hedgehogs in special tunnels to reveal that they were living at just 20 per cent of the

261 sites surveyed. It backed up the observation that badgers were having a negative impact. “the results, however, show that even if we did eradicate badgers, hedgehog occupancy would still only be 31 per cent; 70 per cent of the countryside is not suitable for hedgehogs,” said mr williams.

he added that the loss of hedgerows was likely to be the main reason. the recent hot summer has proved challenging for earthworms and other invertebrates, which are a food source for hedgehogs and badgers. “where there is less food

for badgers, they are turning to alternative sources such as hedgehogs,” he said. “this is an almost perfect storm. we need to recognise that something else is going wrong in our countryside.”

liam Bell, chairman of the national gamekeepers’ organisation, said: “this study implies that continued hedgerow loss is a major factor behind the decline of hedgehogs.”

he pointed out that the hedgerows regulations 1997 made it an offence to remove a hedge without permission. “In 2016, the government congratulated farmers for planting or restoring 950 miles of hedges in the previous five years. gamekeepers have also been a driving force in helping to manage and plant new hedgerows.

“People have to realise that control of one protected species will aid another”

“the truth behind the dramatic decline in hedgehog numbers is the burgeoning population of badgers, which in england and wales has increased by 88 per cent since the 1980s. people have to realise that in certain circumstances, the control of one protected species will aid the recovery of another.”