Essex Charity Encourages Hedgehog Highways Ahead of Autumn/Winter
The latest charity to receive a donation from Timloc Building Products stresses the importance of installing highways in our fences ahead of one the hedgehogs busiest times of year.
Essex based charity, Hedgehog Haven Essex, welcomed a £100 donation generated from sales of the Hedgehog Highway created by Timloc Building Products, part of the Alumasc Group plc.
Anne Taylor, a Hedgehog Haven Essex trustee and carer, commented: “The charity is always extremely grateful for contributions, especially around this time of year when we are working hard to release the many hedgehogs in our care once fully recovered.”
Hedgehog Haven Essex was established in 2007 by a group of friends, all with a common interest in British wildlife and the conservation of hedgehogs.
Solely relying on the public’s generosity, the charity rehabilitates and releases sick or injured hedgehogs back in to the wild, which is key in combating the species declining numbers.
The charity is equipped with indoor areas to manage new rescues, hibernation sheds to house hedgehogs not yet ready to be released over winter and soft release runs to prepare hedgehogs that are ready to be reintroduced to the wild.
Anne continued: “The extremely hot weather we had over the summer has had a huge impact on wildlife. We received a lot of hedgehogs that were severely dehydrated and weak, which is why it is so important to leave out a shallow dish of water that is regularly topped up, even during the colder months, but especially during the summer months.
“In the lead up to autumn/winter, now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for your local hedgehogs as during the season they will be fattening themselves up ready to hibernate over winter. Leave areas wild for them to hibernate in and don’t tidy up too much. This is why we encourage garden owners to create a highway to allow hedgehogs to roam through their gardens and forage for the much-needed food and shelter and to support them by providing fresh water and dry cat or hedgehog food.”
The Hedgehog Highway by Timloc is easy to install and enables hedgehogs to roam freely and help tackle the declining numbers.
Planning guidance for new house builds recommends a 13cm hole be put in the base of fences to create a highway. The Timloc Hedgehog Highway makes the hole aesthetically pleasing and states the hole’s purpose is to avoid accidental obstruction.
Timloc Building Products has supplied Hedgehog Highways to various housing developments to assist housebuilders in making a conscious effort towards hedgehog conservation.
The Hedgehog Highway is available in Black, Brown, Grey or Yellow, in single or multi packs.
For further information on the Hedgehog Highway visit: www.hedgehoghighway.co.uk
To learn more about Hedgehog Haven Essex visit: www.hedgehoghavenessex.co.uk