We conducted our second hedgehog survey led by our hedgehog champions, Nadine and Chey in the Grounds Team, week commencing 13 September 2021. We were joined by Chris (our Students’ Union President of Wellbeing and Diversity), Jane (our University Chaplain) and Shayna (Student Placements Coordinator) to do the tunnel checking during the week.

The three tunnels were placed in our front border at Lord Mayor’s Walk (LMW) against the Quad/McGregor building and also behind the Grounds Team bungalow and garage at Haxby Road Sports Park.

We did not find any hedgehog prints on our first and second day but look what we found in the LMW tunnel on our third day!

On our fourth and fifth day, we found hedgehog prints at both of our tunnels at LMW campus and Haxby Road Campus, we were all very excited! Nadine also placed a wildlife camera on the tunnels and captured some great footage, scroll down to the bottom of ‘Our Green University‘ page on our website to view them.

This year, we are aiming for Silver accreditation on the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Campaign. The Grounds team have been leading with the initiative by proving hedgehog houses, log piles, sowing wildflower seeds, reducing pesticides use and changing the way they manage our green space. They have recently put out some water drinking stations for the hedgehogs.

This November, we are planning to do a litter pick campaign led by the Student’s Union. We are looking forward to working with the students to cleaning up the space for everyone as well as making it a safer place for hedgehogs.