Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Hedgehogs

05 July 2021 · 9 other contributors · 11,712 words

Opened by Matt Vickers Con Stockton West

Responding minister: Rebecca Pow

ClimateEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Matt Vickers raised concerns about hedgehogs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about rural hedgehog populations declining by half and urban populations by a third since 2000.
  • The British Hedgehog Preservation Society added the species to the IUCN red list as vulnerable.
  • The petition calls for increasing hedgehog protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to schedule 5.

Key requests to Government

The petition requests increasing hedgehog protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to schedule 5, prohibiting intentional killing, injuring or taking of hedgehogs. The Government is exploring using powers in the Environment Bill for threatened species recovery. Greater public awareness about safe gardening practices and wildlife-friendly development measures would also be beneficial. The Minister should undertake an urgent legislative review to address issues such as holistic wildlife assessments on development sites and protect animals like hedgehogs from being bulldozed out of their habitats. The Minister should also encourage the recovery of hedgerows under the Agriculture Act 2020 and support habitat corridors for species migration.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Matt Vickers Con Stockton West

Since 2000, rural hedgehog populations have declined by half and urban populations by a third. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has recently added the species to the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list as vulnerable, indicating an appreciable risk of extinction within 10 years. Challenges include modern farming practices that reduce prey availability, loss of habitat due to larger fields and fewer hedgerows, and climate change impacting hibernation habits. Hedgehogs face threats from being sold illegally for £300 each, which depletes wild populations and introduces biosecurity risks. The UK has lost a significant amount of wildlife, including hedgehogs. The hedgehog population has declined dramatically from nearly as many as people in the 1950s to only about 1.5 million today. Habitat loss and development practices are major factors in this decline. There is concern that the current protection review could result in less protection for hedgehogs, which would be a setback.

Other contributors (9)
  • Andrew Mitchell Con Sutton Coldfield

    He highlighted the significant public support for additional hedgehog protection, noting a petition signed by 185 Suttonians. He praised Snuffles Hedgehog Rescue's work and supported moving hedgehogs from schedule 6 to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Mitchell expressed concern about the quinquennial review that could remove current protections and requested further action from the Government. Offered to deliver a hedgehog box made in Sutton Coldfield to the Minister's garden at Westminster.

  • Chris Grayling Con Epsom and Ewell

    Asked if it would be better to replace the current legislative framework rather than continue with the quinquennial review, given its inadequacy for today's world.

  • Duncan Baker Con Wycombe

    The speaker highlighted the decline in hedgehog populations, noting a decrease of over 50% in the last 20 years. They emphasised that moving hedgehogs from schedule 6 to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act could provide better protection against potential eligibility changes under the quinquennial review process.

  • Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

    Paying tribute to Carolyn Harman of Hessle Hedgehog Rescue, Emma Hardy highlighted the decline in hedgehog numbers by around 50% over the past 20 years. She criticized the Government's response stating that it was unclear whether protection under Schedule 5 would benefit hedgehogs and instead called for stronger protections similar to those afforded other vulnerable species like bats and dormice. Emphasizing habitat loss as a major threat, she suggested that protections in Section 9(4) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act could address this issue effectively.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Conservation is a serious duty for Jim Shannon. He highlighted the decline of hedgehogs in the UK, noting that their numbers have halved in rural areas and declined by a third in urban areas since 2000. Shannon also mentioned Ulster Wildlife's efforts to help conserve hedgehogs through public education and donations. He urged the Minister to move hedgehogs from Schedule 6 to Schedule 5 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, enhancing their protection. Asked if before any work on a site or development begins, it would be possible to remove and relocate hedgehogs. Also inquired about the feasibility of farms accepting relocated hedgehogs.

  • Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

    Ms Liz Twist highlighted the significant decline in hedgehog populations, noting a 50% drop in rural areas since 2000 and a third decrease in urban regions. She mentioned that hedgehogs are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the RSPCA due to habitat destruction, traffic accidents, poorly planned roads, and pesticide use. Ms Twist also discussed Sandra Lowe's efforts with her hedgehog rescue organisation Hope for Hedgehogs, which treats hedgehogs at a cost of £50 per animal but relies on self-funding. On paper, all the measures are great, but it is essential to have resources for enforcement. There has been too much evidence of hedgerows being destroyed despite supposed protections.

  • Robert Halfon Con Harlow

    Robert Halfon shared his experience of having a hedgehog, Horace, in his garden and highlighted the public's love for these animals. He mentioned that since 2000, hedgehog numbers have declined by half in rural areas and a third in urban ones. Halfon called for greater protection measures and for children to be educated about red-list mammals such as hedgehogs at school.

  • Roger Gale Con Herne Bay and Sandwich

    Roger Gale emphasized that fewer hedgehog sightings are a concerning sign of population decline. He noted that hedgehogs are on the red list for British mammals and vulnerable to extinction, citing evidence from the People's Trust for Endangered Species. Gale criticized current planning policies for exacerbating habitat loss through agricultural land development.

  • Theresa Villiers Con Chipping Barnet

    Concerned about the decline in hedgehog numbers, stating a loss of half in rural areas and a third in urban ones. Urges the Minister to enhance protection for hedgehogs and ensure that biodiversity net gain provisions are implemented in the Environment Bill. Congratulated the Minister on a success and urged her to include a scheme in the ELM that promotes hedgerows, beneficial for both farmers and hedgehogs.

Government Response

Rebecca Pow

The Government are committed to ensuring that native species, including hedgehogs, thrive. The Minister referenced the red list for British mammals published in 2020 by the Mammal Society which classed hedgehogs as vulnerable. She highlighted the importance of habitat loss being a major threat and discussed the quinquennial review process, which reviews schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The JNCC will make recommendations with regard to those lists, and proposals for change will be formally consulted on later this year. The Environment Bill aims to strengthen commitments towards species such as hedgehogs through a new legally binding target set for species abundance by 2030. Local nature recovery strategies are also being introduced under the bill to help identify local biodiversity priorities. Additionally, measures like biodiversity net gain and sustainable farming incentives will contribute to preserving habitats beneficial to hedgehogs. The Minister emphasised that the Government intend to publish a Green Paper later in the year focusing on enhancing and modernising species legislation. She assured all hon. Members of their commitment to protecting hedgehogs and other native wildlife.

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