Students at Reigate Grammar School have been involved in constructing a new hedgehog house as part of a project connected with the Wilder Schools programme. As well as providing essential shelter and safety for hedgehogs, the house could encourage more wildlife into the area. The Wilder Schools scheme is focused around helping schools to become more eco-friendly and welcome more nature into their grounds. Reigate Grammar School first started the programme last year, when bird feeders were set up, raised beds were planted and a wildflower garden was established.
At the moment, there have been no sightings of hedgehogs in that area, but the students are planning to put straw and mealworms in the house, as these will help to attract the hedgehogs. The house also has a good design – the long entrance tube at the front is small enough so that predators such as foxes are not able to get in, and the structure is sturdy and well-built. Nearby, there are wood and leaf piles, which are hedgehog-friendly and also help to provide shelter for wildlife.
A Hedgehog Highway has been set up near the hedgehog house – this is a small dip or gap under a fence which allows hedgehogs to pass through areas without too much trouble (there are plans for two more highways to be made). This means that they can find food more easily, without having to travel unnecessarily long distances. There is a plan for a hedgehog camera to be set up, so that students will be able to observe the animals up close without unsettling them, although this may not be in place until next year. Hedgehog populations have been declining drastically, so it is important to take action. This new addition to the Reigate Grammar School grounds will provide a safe, sheltered haven for hedgehogs, especially in the cold winter, where they need a warm place to hibernate that is out of harm’s way.
