Protecting hedgehogs at Blackmore Meadows
03 May 2022
Hedgehog Awareness Week (1st ?" 7th May) aims to raise the profile of hedgehogs and highlight the important work that’s being done to protect them. Hedgehogs will be able to travel easily at Blackmore Meadows in Stalbridge, thanks to the hedgehog highways installed at the new Bovis Homes development. Site manager, Gary French ?" who won a Seal of Excellence NHBC Award 2021 for building homes of exceptional quality ?" explained: “We are pleased to be part of this fantastic initiative! We have installed a hedgehog highway in each garden throughout the build stage, which hasn’t taken a huge amount of effort but it will make big difference to hedgehogs locally. The small 13cm by 13cm holes in the fences allow hedgehogs to travel easily between gardens and wilder areas, and to roam freely at night ?" enabling them to find food, mates and shelter.” Tips on how to make your garden hedgehog friendly: - Link your garden - Ensure there’s an easy route out of ponds and pools - Create a wild corner - Deal with netting and litter - Put out food and water - Stop using chemicals on your garden - Check carefully before mowing and strimming - Build a logpile Gary added: “It’s also a good opportunity for nature-loving residents to learn more about the wildlife in their gardens and to see how these small changes can help to support national efforts to protect the hedgehog population.” Hedgehog facts: - They’re called hedgehogs as they root through hedges and undergrowth in search of food and make a grunting sound similar to that of a warthog - Their eyesight isn't very good. Instead, hedgehogs use their hearing and smell to hunt - A group of hedgehogs is called an array, although it's very rare that you'll see them together Blackmore Meadows is a development of 120 homes on the edge of Stalbridge in a pretty rural location off Lower Road. There are currently three and four bedroom homes available and the development also includes a play area, green open space, an attenuation pond planted with wildflowers, and a circular path for cycling and walking. Blackmore Meadows will contribute over £1.32 million to the local community towards a trailway, allotments, healthcare, leisure facilities, library services, local nature reserve, pedestrian cycle connections, play facilities, education and public art. For details on the new homes, contact the sales team on 01963 650049 or visit www.bovishomes.co.uk For further information on the protection of hedgehogs, visit www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk
