‘Walk like a hedgehog’ for wildlife

CPRE Sussex is asking people to ‘walk like a hedgehog’ to raise funds for the organisation’s work in the countryside.

Hedgehogs can travel up to 3km in one night and the charity is hoping to get families, groups and individuals from across the county walking the same distance as part of its Hedgerow Hike for nature next month (September).

Over the past decade, the UK has lost more than half its rural hedgehogs, (The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs, by People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). This is largely due to the loss of habitat, declining food sources and destruction of nesting sites. CPRE Sussex works to protect the countryside and to prevent the loss of important habitats.

“Hedgerows are vitally important” says CPRE Sussex Chair, Prof Dan Osborn. “They are major features of the Sussex landscape and essential habitats supporting over 2,000 species, including our much-loved hedgehogs”.

“Three kilometres is a remarkable distance for such a small animal to travel, but it’s not such a great distance for us, so we are hoping that lots of people of all ages will take up this challenge and ‘walk like a hedgehog’ for such a good cause.”

The hike can be carried out anywhere in the county and is open to all ages.

Join the Hedgerow Hike at: www.cpresussex.org.uk/discover-your-countryside/hedgerow-hike// and sign up by requesting a sponsorship form or setting up a Just Giving page.