Barnsley Biodiversity Action Plan. Post-15 BAP. Updated to 2023

 Biodiversity

 Action

 Plan

Hedgehog Conservation: Factors causing loss or decline

Good Practice in Conservation of Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are often found in suburban areas, and gardens, grounds and parks can be made better for supporting hedgehogs:


The best conservation management of wider habitats is to maintain:

Badgers and Hedgehogs

Badgers are a natural predator of Hedgehogs and Hedgehogs actively avoid sites where there are Badgers in high numbers.


When there is sufficient cover and foraging opportunities, Badgers and Hedgehogs can coexist, but when there is no safe refuge and the prey that the two species compete for is scarce, Hedgehogs may lose out.


Legal protection

Hedgehogs are partially protected under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and may not be killed or trapped without a licence. Updated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.


The Wild Mammals Protection Act (1996) prohibits cruel treatment of Hedgehogs and it is generally prohibited to remove Hedgehogs from the wild.


As a Section 41 species under the NERC Act (2006), Hedgehogs need to be taken into consideration by any public body in managing their estate.


For advice and information

British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Hedgehog Street

Mammals on Roads surveys

State of British Hedgehogs 2018

Living with mammals surveys


Associated Local Priority Habitats

Hedgehog Conservation