[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]PROPERTY company Bovis Homes has been working with the Bromsgrove-based Willows Hedgehog Rescue on its new development in Catshill in a bid to help the area's prickly creatures.
Wildlife corridors have been introduced as part of a new scheme aimed at helping hedgehogs and their hoglets.
Hedgehog access routes through gravel boards in garden fences allow them to roam around freely and hedgehog houses have also been strategically placed at Church Meadows.
The move was welcomed by Willows' Jayne Walker.
She said: “It’s fantastic that Bovis Homes recognises how important it is to consider the needs of local wildlife in the area.
"Foraging hedgehogs can travel over a mile each night searching for food and drink but the use of impenetrable fences and barriers can hinder this natural behaviour in a devastating way, forcing hedgehogs to navigate busy roads as an alternative.
“The idea of these holes in fencing is really innovative and means that there will be much safer access to food sources for our prickly friends and new residents will be able to enjoy and learn about the nocturnal activities of these interesting animals.”
David Willars, Bovis Homes' regional landscape architect, said: “Maintaining and enhancing local ecology and sustainability is extremely important to us and we do our utmost to ensure that the needs of even the smallest of local residents are taken care of.
"This is why the ecological corridor is such a feature of this unique development and will hopefully be something we can include in plans for future sites.”
As well as helping hedgehogs, an artificial badger sett has been put in place, along with bat and bird boxes.
Eighty trees and hundreds of wildflowers have also been planted to enhance the existing wetland habitat.
Read more: Homes for hedgehogs and hoglets on new Bromsgrove development | Bromsgrove Standard
Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:09 am