Brightlingsea could be the first place in Essex to see signs warning people to watch out for hedgehogs.
According to the Brightlingsea Hedgehog Highways Rescue group (BHHR), most hedgehog deaths occur on the main routes into the town – Church Road, Chapel Road and Ladysmith Avenue – and it’s on these roads that it’s hoped to place the signs. The signs feature a hedgehog, but are also used to drivers to be aware of other small wildlife.
An application Essex County Council for permission to erect the signs has been progressed by Brightlingsea town councillor Kate Mitchell with support from county councillor Alan Goggin. The town council, along with the Brightlingsea Nature Network, has pledged some funding, and now the BHHR has launched a GoFundMe campaign for the remainder.
The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report said that in the last 25 years hedgehog numbers have declined by up to 75%, with the largest falls in the east of England.
However, Vicky Pudney, who runs the BHHR, said that Brightlingsea has a very healthy population of hedgehogs and other small wildlife, partly because the town has many various different habitats.
Warmer winters have meant that many hedgehogs no longer hibernate, so several local residents ensure they are fed throughout the year. The BHHR takes in sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, releasing them back into the wild once well again.
If possible the animals are returned to the area in which they were found, as they have good memory and remember the routes they take in the hunt for food – often travelling up to two kilometres a night.
The BHHR’s Facebook page can be found here.
