Award win for hedgehog highways at national biodiversity awards

11^th October 2017

Hedgehog Highways, a scheme developed by Redrow West Country, has won a prestigious award at the Big Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2017.

 

Providing a simple way of making gardens hedgehog-friendly, the scheme was announced as the winner of the Small Scale Permanent Award.

 

Redrow worked closely with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, to introduce small, square marked holes into the new garden fences in phase two of their popular Barnstaple development, Glenwood Park. The hole allows hedgehogs to move freely between gardens whilst they forage for food.

 

Redrow committed to the scheme after learning that since 2,000, it is estimated that between a third and a half of all hedgehogs have disappeared from Britain with impermeable fences being criticised as one of the main reasons for the decline. Workers and staff have been engaged in the project from planning and designing the fencing to promoting the scheme to prospective buyers in the sales centre.

 

Every year, The Big Biodiversity Challenge Awards which are run by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), recognise businesses that go beyond normal business practice to incorporate biodiversity enhancements into construction projects.

 

Rob Macdiarmid, Sustainability Director at Redrow commented: “We are delighted the Hedgehog Highways scheme has been acknowledged at the national Big Biodiversity Awards. Since its launch, the scheme has been met with such enthusiasm from residents and prospective buyers at Glenwood Park. It is a simple yet innovative concept which can make a huge difference to the hedgehog community.”

 

Henry Johnson, Hedgehog Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species, commented: “Redrow are the first developer in the south-west to consider hedgehogs. With carefully planning there is no reason why new residential developments cannot have thriving hedgehog populations and we hope this cheap, easy and attractive feature becomes the norm for all gardens.”