HEDGEHOGS in Newton Abbot are being given a helping hand by the town council.
The authority has thrown its weight behind a scheme to create ‘hedgehog highways’ meaning the threatened creatures are able to roam freely to find food and life’s other essentials.
All they need are holes in garden fences, large enough to let them pass through.
To encourage householders to get busy with the saw, Newton Abbot Town Council is offering 50 free hedgehog highway frames to give the gaps a funky look.
Town Clerk Phil Rowe said: ‘The council was approached by the ELM Wildlife Rescue charity who gave a presentation on the threats faced by our hedgehog population and we decided to get behind their call for help,’ he said.
‘We know that Britain has lost as many as 75 per cent of its native hedgehogs in just the last 20 years so it’s critical we all do our bit.
‘Creating a highway is as simple as cutting a 13cm x 13cm gap in the bottom of your fence. Decorating the hole with one of our funky frames will help get children interested and might encourage them to take other steps such as creating bug hotels or planting flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.
‘What’s more, we’d love to see photos of the hedgehogs and other wildlife in Newton Abbot gardens and share them on our Facebook page.
‘So please, come on over to Newton’s Place in Wolborough Street and pick up one of our free highway frames.’
The frames will be given away free of charge on a first come first served basis, proof of residency will be required.
The council offices are open 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
The above image shows Phil Rowe with the box of hedgehog highway frames.
