Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 8th September 2020
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Hedgehog highways petition nears 1m signatures
Hedgehog numbers in the UK have fallen by 95 per cent since the 1950s.

Appeals for hedgehog-safe tunnels to be made legal requirement

A petition calling for all new housing developments to include hedgehog highways in their layouts has been gaining considerable attention and is now nearing 1 million signatures.

Launched by ecologist and author Hugh Warwick in 2018, the petition asks that the government ensure that all future housing developments in the UK build 13cm holes in the bottoms of fences – known as hedgehog highways.

These tunnels allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens, enabling them to locate food and potential mates more easily.

According to the change.org page where the petition is hosted, hedgehog numbers in the UK are estimated to have dropped by 95 per cent since the 1950s. Action is needed as soon as possible to provide a better environment for the animals to thrive, and the commitment to building ‘hedgehog highways’ would be cheap and easy for developers to carry out.

The petition has contributed to several new initiatives in hedgehog preservation since its launch. In January 2020 national housebuilder Bovis Homes became the first developer to commit to introducing hedgehog highways in all of its current developments and future sites ‘wherever possible’. Since then multiple other developers have agreed to protect hedgehog habitats moving forward.

The petition has gained a great deal of traction recently, achieving more than 100,000 new signatures in the last two days alone. Currently more than 935,000 people have signed in total and supporters are taking action in their local area, contacting developers and asking them to make changes to help hedgehogs.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.