UWE Bristol recognised for hedgehog-friendly campus

Media Relations Team, 30 January 2020

See all news

Hedgehog in UK garden. — Hedgehog photographed in UK garden.

UWE Bristol has been recognised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for its efforts to provide a sanctuary for wild hedgehogs on its Frenchay campus.

The University's Frenchay campus is one of 24 campuses to receive Bronze accreditation for 2019 to 2020.

Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a new campaign aimed at turning university campuses into places where hedgehogs can thrive amidst a declining population caused by factors such as roads, litter, and lack of food, water and natural habitat. The scheme aims to encourage students and staff to participate in making their university campus suitable and safe for hedgehogs.

The University's grounds team along with student volunteers have been working on biodiversity techniques on campus to improve the habitat, including creating hedgehog highways and making holes in fences to allow the creatures to pass through more safely.

From next month the team will be developing a programme of work that will allow staff and student volunteers to get involved in horticulture and enhancing spaces around the Frenchay estate as well as raising awareness of ground management techniques that will benefit hedgehogs.

Richie Fluester, Grounds Manager at UWE Bristol, said: “We were delighted to reach the Bronze standard for Frenchay and will continue to work hard towards achieving Gold status across all our campuses. Being a part of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign has provided us with an important focal point to highlight the benefits of managing our campus from a biodiversity perspective.

“Alongside other initiatives, such as our award winning Frenchay Beeline project and our campus-wide meadowscaping, it has allowed us to improve biodiversity across our sites, engage more with our staff and students while still providing a visually appealing and stimulating external environment for all.”

The Bronze accreditation was given on 17 January. More information on the Hedgehog Friendly Campus award can be found on the British Hedgehog Preservation Society website.

This relates to:

Campus and facilities Sustainability