A new interactive map, called 'The BIG Hedgehog Map' allows people to record hedgehog sightings, and East Cambridgeshire residents are being asked to get involved.
The map, which has been created to help hedgehog conservationists understand where hedgehogs live and where they most need help, has a specific section for East Cambridgeshire.
Emma Danielsson, East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Climate Change and Natural Environment Officer, said: “In a public vote, hedgehogs were chosen as the endangered animal residents would most like East Cambridgeshire District Council to support.
"Working with Hedgehog Street, The BIG Hedgehog Map has been adapted so we can specifically record hedgehog numbers in East Cambridgeshire.
"Anyone who spots a hedgehog should go to BigHedgehogMap.org and record their sighting under the East Cambs Hedgehog Hero tab in the regional menu.
"Last year only 56 hedgehogs were recorded on the map in East Cambridgeshire. We hope that with support from residents that number will soon rise."
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Anyone who has a garden can also create a "Hedgehog Highway" by creating a 13cm x 13cm square gap in fence, or dig a channel underneath to allow hedgehog access to other gardens.
People can also put out clean, fresh water in a shallow dish, meaty cat or high-quality hedgehog food, and leave areas of the garden to grow wild to provide space for them to forage, nesting sites and natural food sources.
East Cambs District Council is proposing to put in place planning policies which ask developers to install "hedgehog highways" between new gardens, together with requirements for hedgehog friendly planting such as native hedgerows.
The policies will be contained in a Hedgehog Recovery Supplementary Planning Document, a draft of which is due at to be considered at the council’s Finance and Assets Committee on 28 March 2024, followed by public consultation in spring.
The final policies will be adopted later this year.
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