When we think about conserving wildlife, we often picture expansive national parks and remote natural habitats. However, there's an entire world of conservation happening right in your gardens. While each garden may be small in size, when taken together, they create a vast network of green space within our urban landscape, an area that rivals the size of England's national parks.
Several species of conservation concern, such as hedgehogs, are becoming increasingly dependent on residential gardens. Once a common sight, this charismatic species has been quietly declining in numbers, making them vulnerable to extinction within the UK. One significant factor contributing to hedgehog declines is urbanisation. As cities grow and expand, natural habitats shrink. Like many other species, hedgehogs face challenges adapting to these changing landscapes. So, what can we do to help? Surprisingly, the answer might be right outside your window. Recent studies have revealed that urban gardens can serve as havens for wildlife, with hedgehogs being found at higher densities within human settlements where they can capitalise on the features linked to domestic gardens.
Therefore, for my thesis, I explored how we can best manage our gardens through wildlife-friendly features to support hedgehogs and contribute to the conservation of this species. To address this aim, I used the data from two ongoing citizen science initiatives the Surrey Wildlife Trust ran. The first is the 'Wildlife Garden Survey', which collects information on 43 wildlife-friendly garden features and practices in residential gardens. The survey assesses five fundamental categories for wildlife to thrive: food, shelter, water sources, connectivity, and natural solutions. The second survey is the 'Hedgehog Hotspot Survey', which collects self-reported geo-referenced sightings of hedgehogs from the public to map the distribution of hedgehogs across the county. By using the distribution of garden features and hedgehog observations from these surveys, I could test whether hedgehogs were being observed in areas with certain features.
Firstly, I looked at the uptake of different features across Surrey. My research found limited uptake of features and activities directly supporting hedgehogs, such as hedgehog houses and supplementary feeding, were reported in 25% and 20% of reported gardens. Whereas similar features which support other taxa like birds were more commonly reported where 86% of gardens feed birds and 62% provided nest boxes. Furthermore, features typically supporting connectivity between gardens, such as having corridors of long grass, hedging along boundaries, or being part of local wildlife gardening, were some of the least common features across Surrey.
Continuing my investigation, I looked into how the presence of different features influences hedgehog distribution. My research found a correlation between hedgehog density and the number of gardens with hedgehog houses, gaps in fence lines, and nectar-rich spring flowers in an area. However, pinpointing specific features influencing hedgehog distribution would require further studies featuring strict experimental designs.
Finally, the study found that residents who did engage with hedgehog-supportive features like supplementary feeding or leaf pile tended to incorporate several of them in their outdoor spaces. This not only reflects a genuine affection for hedgehogs but also demonstrates a heightened awareness of the pivotal role that gardens can play in advancing hedgehog conservation. This is a heartening testament to the positive impact of these efforts.
It's important to acknowledge that while these findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing hedgehog presence in urban gardens, they represent a preliminary step in our understanding. These results offer a foundation upon which more comprehensive investigations can build. This ongoing research will enable us to refine conservation strategies and better support hedgehog survival in urban environments.
So, what can you do to contribute to hedgehog conservation? By participating in citizen science initiatives and taking simple steps in your backyard, you can play an active role in safeguarding these endearing mammals. Continue to share your hedgehog observations; your input provides researchers with invaluable data, contributing to a better understanding of hedgehog distribution. In addition, your garden can be a haven for these spiky friends, so consider creating a habitat that offers an array of features to support a diverse range of species and promotes connectivity. With these efforts, you can become a vital part of the Surreys hedgehog conservation movement.