A nationwide call to action has been issued to help one of Britain’s most cherished yet increasingly threatened animals, as Hedgehog Awareness Week gets underway across the UK.
Running this week until 9th May 2026, the annual campaign led by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society is urging the public to “take the Hedgehog Pledge” — a series of simple, practical steps designed to halt the decline of the species.
A species in decline
Once a familiar sight in gardens and hedgerows, the European hedgehog has seen dramatic population falls in recent decades, driven largely by habitat loss, fragmentation and dwindling food supplies.
Conservationists warn that without widespread public involvement, the species — a cornerstone of British wildlife — faces an uncertain future.
“Hedgehog Week highlights the problems hedgehogs face in the UK,” said Fay Vass, chief executive of the society, as the campaign launched. “We’ve created the Hedgehog Pledge with seven practical options to inspire everyone to act.”
Take The Hedgehog Pledge This Hedgehog Awareness Week HERE
Seven small actions — one big impact
At the heart of this year’s campaign is a set of seven actions, each linked to a day of the week, encouraging people to make their gardens and communities more hedgehog-friendly.
Among the measures promoted are:
Cutting 13cm x 13cm holes in fences to create “hedgehog highways” between gardens
Leaving wild spaces, such as log piles and long grass, to provide shelter and food
Checking for wildlife before using garden machinery
Supporters are encouraged to take on one action or attempt all seven across the week.
The approach reflects growing evidence that small, coordinated changes in urban and suburban areas can significantly improve survival rates for hedgehogs, which often rely on interconnected green spaces to forage.
Hedhes are ideal for our native wildlife, like this hedgehog. Picture by Duncan Eames.A grassroots conservation movement
Since its launch in 2011, Hedgehog Awareness Week has evolved into a major grassroots conservation effort, involving schools, councils and households across the country.
This year’s pledge-driven theme aims to transform awareness into tangible action — a shift conservationists say is urgently needed.
“Hedgehogs are an essential part of British wildlife,” campaign organisers note, “but they are one of the most threatened species due to habitat loss and lack of food.”
Why hedgehogs matter
Beyond their cultural appeal, hedgehogs play an important ecological role, feeding on insects such as beetles, caterpillars and slugs, helping to maintain balance in gardens and ecosystems.
Their decline is often seen as a warning sign of wider environmental pressures affecting the UK’s biodiversity.
“Every garden counts”
Campaigners stress that the solution lies not only in large-scale conservation, but in collective local action.
From leaving a patch of garden untamed to installing a small access gap in a fence, the message of Hedgehog Awareness Week 2026 is clear: every space can become a sanctuary.
As the pledge gathers momentum online and in communities, organisers hope that thousands will take part — proving that even the smallest changes can help secure a future for one of Britain’s most iconic animals.
Find out more at: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/take-the-hedgehog-pledge-this-hedgehog-awareness-week/
