Families learn how to help hedgehogs at St Neots event

The Wildlife Trust Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire (BCN) teamed up with Wintringham master developer Urban&Civic to help residents create homes for nature alongside their own.

The activity day at the new St Neots development on Sunday, October 20, was designed to showcase the hedgehog and what can be done to support them through the autumn and winter months.

Despite the weather forcing the event indoors, children planted wildflower pots to take home, learnt how to build hedgehog habitat piles, and decorated hedgehog access holes in fences.

Wildlife Trust Cambridgeshire hosts hedgehog event in St Neots (Image: TIM GEORGE) Debbie McKenzie, communities and education manager for the Wildlife Trust BCN, said: “We really enjoyed talking to Wintringham residents, and it was lovely to see couples and families keen to find out more about how they can help local wildlife in their new gardens.

"The activities were well received, and it was a fantastic opportunity for our Youth Rangers to share their knowledge with such an enthusiastic and receptive audience.”

The team also highlighted the activities at the Environmental Education Centre at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, which offers practical nature-based activities and a chance to get close to local wildlife.

Families learn how to help hedgehogs at St Neots event (Image: TIM GEORGE) Christine Littlewood, community development lead for Wintringham, said: “All our landscaping design incorporates features to create and support vital habitats for nature and it was great to have the Wildlife Trust BCN experts and Youth Rangers with us to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the nature around them.

"It was lovely to see everyone so engaged with the activities during the event, and keen to know how they can play their part by creating spaces for nature in their back gardens."

At the end of the event, families were given a copy of the Wildlife Trust's 'Wild About Gardens' hedgehog booklet.