Wildlife figures out – and down - Kitchen Garden Magazine

The number of people who never see a hedgehog in their garden now stands at 25%, up 11% since 2014.

New data reveals that only 25% of people are seeing hedgehogs in their gardens at least once a month, 13% fewer than in 2014. The number of people who never see a hedgehog in their garden now stands at 25%, up 11% since 2014. This reflects monitoring surveys which indicate that hedgehogs are in long-term decline, with the latest figures suggesting that the UK population has dipped to under one million.

The new figures are among the findings from the ‘other wildlife’ questions in the 2016 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, in which over 280,000 people took part. For the first time participants were asked to report on foxes visiting their garden, and the results revealed that foxes were the second most frequent visitor, with 40% of people with a rural garden seeing one at least once a month. This figure increased to 50% in suburban gardens and 57% in urban gardens. Grey squirrels were the most common garden visitor for the third year running, with 76% of participants spotting one at least once a month.

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RSPB Conservation Scientist Daniel Hayhow says, “With the right care and attention your garden could become a home to all kinds of different species, and you could have front row seats to some amazing wildlife shows. The UK is home to some fascinating garden wildlife from bugs to butterflies, hedgehogs to house sparrows – our outdoor spaces provide these species with the vital homes they need to survive.”

The RSPB is calling on people to get involved in its Giving Nature a Home campaign, and has launched a new online tool that lets you build your own personalised plan for nature, targeting your favourite species and the wildlife that is struggling in your area. Create your personal plan at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/givenatureahomeinyourgarden/?utm_source=plan&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=GNAH2016 and find more results from the survey at http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/releases/420646-get-involved-in-giving-nature-a-home-your-chance-to-save-nature

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Steve Ott

Steve Ott is editor of Kitchen Garden magazine and started his career as a professional grower, producing everything from cut flowers to vegetables. He has been growing fruit and veg all his life and spends most of his spare time in his garden in the East Midlands. He loves to experiment with crops and varieties he has never grown before and when he isn’t gardening is to be found out in the countryside bird watching and walking his dog Ted.