Skip to main content
Eastleigh Borough Council
  • Residents
  • Business
  • Council
  1. Home
  2. Residents
  3. Parks, leisure and culture
  4. Country parks and open spaces
  5. Itchen Valley Country Park
  6. Education
  7. Supporting local hedgehogs: Is your garden hog happy?

Supporting local Hedgehogs: Is your garden hog happy?

In support of the UK's 10 year conservation strategy we're encouraging visitors to make their gardens 'Hog Happy'!

We celebrate the achievements of this campaign in a news summary

Hedgehog Banners7

Take a look at Hedgehog Street's top ten hedgehog safety tips

NEW Hedgehog Street app - download it now...

Why hedgehogs?

The population of the humble hedgehog is thought to have been in decline, over the late 20th century and early 21st century, leading to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People's Trust for Endangered Species campaign: Hedgehog Street, in 2011.

They have been on a mission to raise awareness of the plight of the Western-European Hedgehog and encourage the UK to become Hedgehog Champions.

As a result a 10 year conservation strategy was written up, 2015-2025, to help the on-going work. 

Decline of the hedgehog.png

source: The State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2018 (Wilson & Wembridge)

Itchen Valley Country Park are ready to help support Hedgehog Street and ask the question: "Is your garden hog happy?"

This year-long campaign aims to build on the national success and increase local awareness of the dangers for hedgehogs and how to help them during key points in the year - spring and autumn.

What are we doing?

  • NEW - ensuring hedgehog safety stickers are added to the Council's maintenance equipment 
  • Weaving hedgehog-related activities into our existing sessions - such as hedgehog crafts and Woodland Café treats
  • Hosting Hedgehog Days in November 2018 and October 2019.
  • Hosting a school poster competition (download the winning posters from this page)
  • Increasing awareness online using #HogHappyGarden
  • Showing you all the ways in which you can support hedgehogs in your area
  • Encourage you to become a Hedgehog Champion and populate the Hedgehog Map

What can you do?

  • Get involved in the hedgehog-related activities at Itchen Valley Country Park
  • Follow the 10 tips for encouraging hedgehogs in your neighbourhood (become a Hedgehog Champion or follow #HogHappyGarden to access)
  • Build a Hedgehog Home in your garden and/or Hedgehog Holes in your garden fences creating Hedgehog Highways
  • Become a Hedgehog Champion and populate the Hedgehog Map
  • Post progress of your hedgehog activities via #HogHappyGarden and help spread the word
Donate to Hedgehog Awareness Week

Watch the award-winning Hedgehog Close video for inspiration:
(achieving silver in their category and overall People's Choice Award at the Charity Film Awards, May 2018)

Itchen Valley celebrates the campaign's success

Read the article

Winners announced for 'Hedgehog Awareness' poster competition!

Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils from two schools took part under three categories and prizes are being provided by New Forest Wildlife Park as well as Itchen Valley Country Park themselves. The winners can be downloaded here for your own use

For the full story...

102491 Hedge Hog Poster3

Download this poster in A4
Download this poster in A3

102491 Hedge Hog Poster2

Download this poster in A4
Download this poster in A3

102491 Hedge Hog Poster

Download this poster in A4
Download this poster in A3

Help support your local hedgehogs

A list of useful resources and webpages to help you support your local hedgehogs

  • Hedgehog Street
  • British Hedgehog Preservation Society
  • People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
  • Become a Hedgehog Champion
  • Hedgehog Map
  • #HogHappyGarden Follow the hashtag journey
  • Hedgehog Street FAQs

The map below shows the hedgehog sightings and fence holes, in the Eastleigh area, recorded on the national Hedgehog Map

Hampshire officially top of the table for 'hog sightings!

11.9.18 Hedgehog map.png
In this section Education
  • Supporting local hedgehogs: Is your garden hog happy?
  • Forest School
  • Little Owls woodland pre-school
Contact details
  • Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
  • Telephone: 023 8068 8000
Support links
  • Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility
  • Feedback
  • Contact
  • Built by Etch

© Copyright 2023 Eastleigh Borough Council