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Hedgehogs: Conservation and Ecology

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 63500, tabled on 27 June 2025

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is funding UK-wide research into hedgehog ecology and conservation.

Answered on

4 July 2025

Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Forestry Commission have contributed to the first National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy. This strategy has identified several actions to facilitate and encourage data sharing on hedgehog ecology and conservation.

In addition, Natural England is co-funding the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme. The information gathered will produce insights into the factors causing hedgehog population decline, leading to the implementation of practical conservation measures to address this challenge.