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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
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- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
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- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
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- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
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- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Evidence-based conservation for urban hedgehogs

Evidence-based conservation for urban hedgehogs

Understanding the ecology and behaviour of urban hedgehogs is essential to devising successful conservation strategies.

Urban hedgehog populations are of increasing importance in the UK as the national population declines.

Funding for this project has now finished

The problem

Nationally, the UK hedgehog population has declined dramatically in the last 50 years, but one habitat where the species is potentially doing much better is in our towns and cities. As one of our favourite mammal species, many urban residents are already passionately interested in helping to improve the fortunes of “their” hedgehogs. But developing successful strategies for the conservation of urban hedgehogs requires a detailed understanding of their ecology, behaviour and demography to identify how they can be helped but also to what extent conservation interventions such as the Hedgehog Street campaign (launched by PTES and BHPS) affect individual animals and, ultimately, populations.

The solution

Abigail Gazzard, based at the University of Reading, will focus on quantifying key aspects of urban hedgehogs’ ecology and demography across different urban landscapes within the town. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying: the survival rates of different classes of individuals such as juveniles, and during different key time periods (such as hibernation). Abigail will also determine how hedgehogs move through the urban landscape and which gardens they prefer. Looking at whether and how increasing connectivity between gardens affects the movement of hedgehogs will be critical to assessing what conservation measures we need to promote across the landscape. This information will be used to provide advice for individual householders and conservation organisations so that they can ensure a happier future for hedgehogs in our urban landscape.

Thank you to all our donors who helped us fund this work. You can help us support more projects like this with a donation today:

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