Bath Spa achieves Hedgehog Gold Accreditation

 News 

Bath Spa University awarded Gold Accreditation by British Hedgehog Preservation Society

We’re very proud to announce that Bath Spa University has been awarded a Gold Accreditation from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for being a Hedgehog Friendly Campus, just one year after achieving Silver status.

Hedgehogs are listed as vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and their numbers have declined by up to 50% since 2000. The Gold Accreditation is well-deserved recognition for our staff and students who have worked hard to make our campuses safe for the prickly creatures, as well as raise awareness of the species’ decline. 

In the past year, students and staff at Bath Spa have:

• Established a student Hedgehog Society 
• Run a hedgehog-themed reusable cup design competition
• Produced a campaign video highlighting the work being done
• Worked with the local community, such as conducting hedgehog surveys at Corston Community Orchard
• Provided watering and food stations during last year’s drought to help hedgehogs prepare for hibernation
• Offered special training to our Grounds’ Team, to ensure they work in a hog-safe manner and can provide the correct help if a hedgehog is found.

In addition, over 25 of our students have signed up to become Hedgehog Champions with Hedgehog Street.

Julian Greaves, Sustainability Manager at Bath Spa University said:

"The Hedgehog Friendly Campus Award has been the best nature-focused engagement activity we've ever done and we're extremely proud to have attained this Gold Award. The Award has generated an overwhelming level of interest among staff and students, not only in hedgehogs, but in biodiversity more broadly.

"I would like to thank all the students that have given their time to the project, our Grounds Manager, Penny Snowden and our very own Sustainability Coordinator, Emma Jakins, for all the work they’ve put in over the last couple of years. Our campus is now truly hedgehog friendly and we plan to keep it that way!"

The work at Bath Spa is just one part of efforts taking place nationwide to make the grounds at universities, colleges and schools more suitable for hedgehogs. This year, 92 institutions submitted applications to become a Hedgehog Friendly Campus, with accreditations spanning across Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

For more information you can follow the team on Instagram (@hedgehogsbsu) and Facebook (@bsuhedgehogfriendlycampus), or email hedgehogs@bathspa.ac.uk.