AIM:
To develop a clear understanding of the state of the UK’s hedgehogs, their population sizes, strongholds and weak spots. Armed with that knowledge, we can recover the nation’s favourite wild animal.
LOCATION:
All around the UK
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Hedgehogs are one of the UK’s best loved species, but due to ongoing dramatic declines, they are now officially Vulnerable to Extinction. To reverse this trend, we need to know where hedgehogs are struggling, where they are thriving, and understand what makes ‘healthy hedgehog habitats’. To achieve this, project partners are putting out cameras at sites across the country, to monitor hedgehogs and other wildlife. Using an innovative combination of AI and citizen science, GreenTheUK business partners will help deliver the first robust population estimates of hedgehogs and other mammals in different sites and habitats across the UK. This will allow urban and rural communities to discover and engage directly with their local wildlife whilst supporting much-needed targeted future conservation efforts for hedgehogs and the habitats they rely on, as identified through the recently published National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy (NHCS).
ABOUT THE NHMP:
The NHMP is a collaborative initiative led by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), two organisations with decades of experience in hedgehog research and community-driven conservation. This pioneering project brings together an exceptional network of environmental NGOs, academic institutions, citizen scientists and technology innovators. By combining expertise in ecology, data science, and cutting-edge technology, the NHMP is setting a new standard for wildlife monitoring in the UK, working collectively to safeguard hedgehogs and other terrestrial mammals for future generations.
