Going The Way Of The Dodo

                                                                                                                 Image from morguefile.com

Last week's announcement from a consortium of twenty-five nature conservation charities sounds an alarm call concerning British nature. State Of Nature declares that 60% of species have suffered major declines within the last fifty years.

The hedgehog I set eyes upon last night was one in a million. That's the estimated population. The 90% decline of this animal is comparable to the stars of world wildlife such as the tiger. Joined-up thinking presents a way forward for this creature and the eco-system it depends on. Conservation charities are working together to link nature reserves and habitats, and enhancing wildlife 'corridors' that already exist, such as encouraging wildlife gardening or sensitive management of public land such as roadside verges.

The hedgehogs where I live have a network of gardens, recreation fields, school grounds, hedgerow and farmland. But the garden corridor means a chain of slug pellets. I followed a hedgehog trail around last year's Open Gardens scheme and asked people if they used slug pellets. Yes, yes and yes, though they love hedgehogs. For hedgehog-friendly gardening, experts such as the British Hedgehog Preservation Society advise supplying drinking water, food and shelter, and caution with bonfires and safe escape from garden sheds and swimming pools.