Southend set to introduce 'Hedgehog Highways' scheme

A SCHEME to protect dwindling hedgehog populations is set to be introduced in Southend.

Green Party councillor Stuart Allen put forward a motion to council in March to encourage residents to make holes in garden fencing so hedgehogs can travel through.

Southend Council’s cabinet, which will meet on Monday, aims to establish a “Hedgehog Highway" scheme. Homeowners will get grants to replace a solid concrete gravel board with one featuring a hedgehog access hole.

The widespread use of concrete gravel boards obstructs natural travel routes between gardens. This forces hedgehogs onto roads, leading to “increased fatalities and fragmented populations”.

Mr Allen said: “After submitting our Hedgehog Highways motion to full council back in March, I’m really pleased to see positive recommendations now going to cabinet. These steps could make a real difference for our brilliant native hedgehogs - nature’s little pest controllers - whose numbers have dropped from 30 million to under one million since the 1950s.

“It’s great to see the council planning to work with Essex Wildlife Trust and other groups, using existing budgets and external grants to support the scheme. I look forward to seeing how the project takes shape.”

The motion, seconded by Susan Badger, Independent councillor for Thorp Ward, also calls on the council to  Incorporate hedgehog-friendly design into planning conditions for new developments, requiring the inclusion of hedgehog access holes in fencing and “explore further initiatives to enhance local hedgehog populations, including the promotion of wildlife-friendly gardening practices and a reduction in pesticide use.”

A report to cabinet said: “The council’s climate change and planning teams have reviewed the proposal and agreed that officers will collaborate with Essex Wildlife Trust and other environmental and community groups and wider stakeholders including the Youth Council, to understand the current hedgehog population and opportunities for improving hedgehog infrastructure across the city building on the data from the Greater Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

“The planning service is committed to ensuring that new developments maximise opportunities to support hedgehog populations.”