Hedgehog warriors win highways fight
AVALLEY couple who won the backing of more than 1,600 people for an upcoming housing development to be made hedgehogfriendly have claimed victory in their battle.
Caroline and Chris Paxton, of Helmshore, lobbied Taylor Wimpey to include ‘hedgehog highways’ in its new Woodside development, in Crawshawbooth - and have been successful.
More than 1,600 people signed their petition at change.org, which was inspired by a national campaign to help protect the species, whose population has declined by up to 95 per cent in Britain since the end of the Second World War.
Caroline and Chris, of Cotton Way, Helmshore, now want the developer to go further and make a similar commitment to its controversial proposed scheme near them to build 131 houses on Holcombe Road, which is still pending planning permission.
In the petition Caroline said: “New housing developments should include hedgehog highways, 13cm holes that allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens to find food and a mate.
“This simple move would have a big impact on our hedgehogs and it is cheap and easy for developers to carry out. It would also help frogs and birds. Bovis Homes are the first building company to have committed to installing hedgehog highways to new and existing developments. I live in a Taylor Wimpey house in Rossendale and other developments are being built in the area. It would be fantastic to see Taylor Wimpey follow Bovis’s lead.”
The national planning framework was changed last year with guidance that hedgehog highways should be included in all new developments - but it is not mandatory.
Chris said: “It seemed like quite a sensible solution to what was a big problem. A big part of it is trying to persuade them.
“If we can get a bit of positive PR in this area then hopefully it might persuade them to do something on a national level. We think that it’s such an easy thing for them to do.”
The Help save Britain’s hedgehogs with ‘hedgehog highways’! petition on change.org by conservationist Hugh Warwick has more than 961,000 signatures. Hugh told the Free Press the hedgehog is “the nation’s favourite species”.
“I was told by one developer that it may cost 50p more per house,” he said. “This is an open door to push at. It’s working now from gentle people pressure.”
Woodside is currently scheduled to launch remotely next month, with a range of two to four-bedroom houses.
A Taylor Wimpey Manchester spokesperson said: “As a responsible homebuilder we are committed to building communities rather than just homes and the hedgehog highway is just one example of this.
“Preserving and enhancing local wildlife is a key consideration when we plan and build new Taylor Wimpey developments. This includes providing gardens and open spaces that support local flora and fauna.
“A hedgehog highway is very simple. A hole in a fence measuring 13cm by 13cm is the right size for a hedgehog to pass through but too small for most pets. Providing these in boundary fencing between homes will help hedgehogs pass freely around our completed development.
“We are delighted to commit to this at Woodside and look forward to welcoming both our customers and hedgehogs to the site.”