Hedgehog homes headed to Worcestershire schools

Six new homes for hedgehogs have made their way to schools in Fladbury, Honeybourne, Kidderminster and Arley following a competition to encourage pupils to learn more about Worcestershire’s spiny residents.

Schoolchildren were invited to write a short poem, draw or paint a hedgehog or design a hedgehog-friendly garden to be in with a chance of winning.

The hedgehog homes were built by staff from the caretaking team at Worcestershire County Council and the competition was run by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, who work with schools across the county.

Cat Terry, senior wilder schools officer at the Trust, explained “Hedgehogs are one of our most loved species of wildlife but their numbers are declining at an alarming rate; we were delighted when the team at Worcestershire County Council offered the six hedgehog homes for a competition.

“This provided a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about these nocturnal mammals as well as get creative in how they think about them.

“We had 103 entries from pupils in 12 schools and were amazed by the high standards; judging was very tough!”

The winners, who have been presented with their hedgehog houses before the end of term, are:

Everlyn, aged 6, Fladbury CofE First School, Pershore
Charlie, aged 7, Honeybourne Primary, nr Evesham
Daisy, aged 12, King Charles I School, Kidderminster
Erin, aged 7, and Mischa, aged 9, St Catherine’s Primary School, Kidderminster
Yethuli, aged 10, St George’s CE Primary School, Kidderminster
Maisie, aged 11, and Tommy, aged 9, Upper Arley CofE Primary, nr Bewdley

Along with the hedgehog homes, the winners have also been given a hedgehog adoption pack from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. The packs contain a certificate, fact sheet and further ideas on how to give hedgehogs a helping hand.

It is estimated that there are 95% fewer hedgehogs now than there were in the 1950s. In 2020, hedgehogs were listed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK.

Monitoring and research indicates that hedgehogs in urban areas are faring better than hedgehogs in rural areas. Recent mapping for Worcestershire shows concentrations in the city and main towns with a scattering of records around Pershore and the Vale of Evesham but very little elsewhere.

Chris Green, Caretaking Team Leader at Worcestershire County Council, said “We were delighted to support this competition by supplying the hedgehog homes. The number and standard of entries show just how much people love our native hedgehogs and want to help their populations to recover. Fingers crossed that all the boxes will soon be in use!”

Councillor Josh Robinson, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, added: “Small actions can make a big difference for species such as hedgehogs, and this project is a great example of how organisations and communities can work together to support biodiversity across the county.

“By working with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and local schools, we hope these hedgehog homes will provide safe spaces for wildlife while helping young people learn more about the importance of protecting nature in their local area.”

An illustration of what makes a good garden for a hedgehog, created by Everlyn, aged 6

Hedgehog garden by Everlyn, aged 6, Fladbury CofE First School

6 people posing for a photo within school grounds - there are 5 adults from the school, Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust along with the winner of the competition, aged 6

Everlyn, aged 6, alongside Chris, Keith and Claire of Worcestershire County Council, Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and teaching assistant, Miss Green

A drawn picture of a hedgehog has been laid on some leaves and there's a quote that says "Please can I have a new home" from the hedgehog

Hedgehog by Charlie, aged 7, Honeybourne Primary School

5 people posing for a photo within school grounds - there are 4 adults from Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust along with the winner of the competition, aged 7

Charlie, aged 7, alongside Keith, Chris and Claire of Worcestershire County Council and Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

A poem about a hedgehog sits above a coloured drawing of a hedgehog

Hedgehog poem by Erin, aged 7, St Catherine's Primary School, Kidderminster

An illustration of a garden for hedgehogs alongside a 3D image of a hedgehog made from paper

Hedgehog garden by Mischa, aged 9, St Catherine's Primary School, Kidderminster

7 people posing for a photo within a school building - there are 5 adults from the school, Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust along with the winners of the competition, aged 7 and 9

Erin, aged 7, and Mischa, aged 9, alongside teacher Miss Bromell, Claire, Keith and Chris of Worcestershire County Council and Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

The wandering figure poem by Yethuli, St George's CE Primary School

Yethuli, aged 10, alongside Chris, Keith and Claire of Worcestershire County Council, Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and teacher, Miss Woolford

A hedgehog shape has been drawn onto a piece of paper and dead flower spikes have been added as spines. The name Quilber has been written above the picture.

Quilber the hedgehog by Tommy, aged 6

A wonderful world of hedgehogs poem by Maisie, aged 11, Upper Arley CofE Primary School

4 people posing for the camera under a tree in school grounds - winners are aged 6 and 11 and they're with their teacher and Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Maisie, aged 11, and Tommy, aged 6 are with headteacher Mrs Low and Cat from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Winning poems

Erin, aged 7 - Hedgehog Haiku(s)

I love hedgehog lots
They are super cute and sweet
Hedgehogs are spikey

Tiny little eyes
Curling up into a ball
I want to hug them

Their houses are small
Hedgehogs like to be cosy
Warm, snug and comfy

They like to eat worms
Sometimes fruit and veg as well
Hedgehogs searching for food

Nocturnal creature
Exploring in the dark night
Through leaves, dirt and twigs

Yethuli, aged 10 - The wandering figure

A sudden rustle in the leaves
A tiny form that softly breathes
Through the gloomy shadows of the garden bed
With careful steps and tilted head.

A gentle ball of spikes
He wanders where and when he likes.
With a button nose and midnight eyes
He takes twilight by surprise.

When danger comes, he curls up tight
An armoured fortress in the night.
Then rolls away when things are clear
To hunt for beetles far and near.

Maisie, aged 11 - A wonderful world of hedgehogs

One little hedgehog asleep in the woods
One little hedgehog snuffling for bugs
One little hedgehog walking around
One little hedgehog sitting safe and sound
One little hedgehog having a bath
One little hedgehog having a laugh
One little hedgehog having fun
One little hedgehog bathing in the sun
One little hedgehog reading a book
And one little hedgehog making a nook.