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Study reveals London’s hedgehog hotspots
Researchers found hotspots of hedgehog populations in the north and west of London.

Native hedgehogs thriving in some areas but less so in others

Hampstead Heath is currently home to one of the largest hedgehog populations in London, according to new research.


The study led by scientists from ZSL’s London HogWatch programme involved placing hundreds of camera traps in green spaces across the city. The cameras recorded any wildlife spotted over two weeks throughout 2019.


Researchers found hotspots of hedgehogs populations in the north and west of London, compared to the south-east of the capital. So far, the largest population found is in Hampstead Heath, North Greater London.

In the west of the city, 62 sightings were recorded, with hedgehogs spotted on 13 of the 30 cameras set up in the WWT Wetland centre alone. The cameras also spotted fragmented distributions of hedgehogs on Putney Lower Common and across Barnes.

In the south of London, however, the picture is very different. Out of the 65 camera locations, which included Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye and Common, only one hedgehog was spotted. The discovery has left researchers baffled as to why they weren’t being recorded.


Records of foxes sighted in south London show these areas generally support wildlife - and foxes and hedgehogs often live side by side. One theory for the lack of sightings is that, because hedgehogs are occasionally seen in this area, they could be living in private gardens, parks and school grounds.


PTES’ intern Rachel Cates, explains: “Interestingly, the habitat in the green spaces we investigated in the Southwark area is very similar to the areas where hedgehogs appear to be doing well. We don’t know why hedgehogs would be doing so well in some areas, but less so in others, when the habitats look similar.

"One explanation could be that these areas are isolated from larger green spaces, meaning there are no safe passages to enable hedgehogs to access these sites from outside.”


PTES’ grants manager Nida Al-Fulaij, added: “It’s not surprising that the distribution of hedgehogs across London is patchy; London’s infrastructure is continuously growing and many of its green spaces are becoming harder for hedgehogs and other wildlife to access. The population in Regent’s Park is well-known and well-studied, but little is known about how hedgehogs are doing in other parts of the city. 


“The next step is to understand why hedgehogs are doing well in some areas, but less so in others, which is why Rachel and Chris’ work is so important. By helping us understand where hedgehogs are living and in what habitats, gives us the best chance of successfully helping them.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.