Meet the Hedgehog Champions: The Underwood-Hall Family

8th May 2020

Hedgehog Awareness Week Day 6

Jackie lives in London and has been involved in hedgehog conservation for several years along with her husband Nigel, daughter Maya (17) and son Michael (13). Their vital community work engages local volunteers and helps urban hedgehogs in London.

Not a Hedgehog Champion yet? You can sign up HERE.

In the community…

Jackie set up ‘SW15 Hedgehogs’ to raise awareness of hedgehogs in Roehampton and Putney. She’s since been aided by Nigel, Maya, Michael and a team of dedicated volunteers. Their voluntary work involves:

Coordinating the volunteer group.
Attending local events to raise awareness of hedgehogs and how people can help.
Organising local hedgehog surveys.
Speaking to groups like Scouts and Guides.

(Please consult government advice regarding covid-19 before organising a community event)

Jackie and Nigel are also involved with Hedgehog Friendly Campus, a BHPS initiative to make the UK’s universities hedgehog havens.

Here’s Nigel fitting University of Roehampton equipment with hedgehog safety warnings, to avoid any accidents.

At home…

Although the family have a relatively small, urban garden, they manage to attract plenty of hedgehogs, and even had some hibernating during the winter. Leaving out supplementary food and a hedgehog house ensures that local hedgehogs have a safe haven in the city.

It is a simple garden, I have a log pile and a lawn with dandelions, shepherd’s purse, mallow that sort of thing but nothing very fancy, no sweeping cottage garden look to my garden. I think the hoggy attraction to my garden is due to the fact there is a permanent feeding station and water, and no pesticides. So maybe not much to look at but great results from my point of view and it shows how you don’t have to be a gardener or spend hours, money and so on to have a hedgehog friendly garden.