Pupils at Coed-y-Garn Primary School, Blaenau Gwent, are passionate about hedgehog welfare – and they recently welcomed their local MP Nick Smith to see some of the amazing work they’ve been doing.
The schoolchildren had shared notes, posters and leaflets with Mr Smith, the representative for Blaenau Gwent, when they heard there was to be a Parliamentary debate calling for better legal protection for hedgehogs following a successful online petition.
On Friday 5th November, the children welcomed him to school, from a safe distance due to Covid safety measures, so that they could share their experiences and the work undertaken so far in their journey to support hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs are in decline across Wales and the rest of the UK. Pupils and staff at Coed-y-Garn Primary are not only raising awareness of the plight of hedgehogs but are working hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment for local wildlife, as they work towards their accreditation to become a Hedgehog Friendly Campus.
The school is one of eight in Blaenau-Gwent which is taking part in this national pilot project of 20 schools, managed by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, which aims to provide a safe habitat for hedgehogs in schools, colleges and universities across Britain.
Headteacher Lauren Cairns said:
“Pupil voice is a strength at Coed-y-Garn and many were so enthused and motivated by the plight of the hedgehog that they asked to be involved.
I am ever so proud that our children are demonstrating that they are ethical, informed citizens, and ambitious, capable learners by showing that they care about the world around them, and are working collaboratively to solve problems - always trying their best.”
Nick Smith MP said:
“It’s brilliant to see young people showing such a passion for protecting wildlife. I am very impressed with all the work that’s been done on this project at Coed-y-Garn school. We should all share the concerns raised by the pupils today, hedgehogs are one of Britain’s most beloved animals and their numbers are declining swiftly.
“Animal welfare is a devolved issue and I’m glad that the Welsh Government recently restated its commitment to protecting hedgehogs. The UK Government should also be doing all it can to not only help stop the decline in hedgehog numbers, but reverse it by setting ambitious biodiversity targets and tackling the climate emergency.”
As a Rights Respecting School, staff believe that outdoor learning supports both Article 28: ‘Children have the right to a good quality education’, and Article 29: ‘Education should help children use and develop their talents and abilities.”
It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.
Cllr Joanne Collins, the Council’s Executive Member for Education commented:
“Our pupils across Blaenau Gwent are showing a real passion for environmental and biodiversity issues, which is great as it’s the young people we really need to get involved with this work. We’re so proud of the pupils at Coed-y-Garn for their work on this project, they are so enthusiastic and I’m sure the hedgehogs and other wildlife will be grateful for their efforts. Well done all.”
Coed-y-Garn has already taken numerous steps to support the wildlife in the school grounds. In addition to hosting a Help a Hedgehog Day, they participated in Hedgehog Awareness Week in May, undertaken litter picks, planted hedgehog friendly trees, and undertaken hedgehog footprint and wildlife camera surveys.
Across school, children have used their skills to research information about hedgehogs and developed ways to raise the awareness of helping keep hedgehogs safe, sharing this information with the wider community. When the school’s pond was re-developed in the summer of 2021, children helped design the area including a slope for animals, such as hedgehogs, to have a safe escape route.
During the visit a group of Coed-y-Garn Hedgehog Ambassadors shared their progress with Nick Smith, demonstrating their creativity and confidence. They talked about their experiences and plans for wildlife conservation at the school, including how school manages green spaces, ensuring the school is creating the right habitat as well as the survival of hedgehogs, for example strimming, planting the right sort of plants, and installing bug houses.
Further information about the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Scheme can be found at https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ and https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/