West Barns Primary School Strives for Hedgehog Friendly School Award
In a heartwarming community effort, pupils, parents, and staff at West Barns Primary School in East Lothian are joining forces with Sustaining Dunbar's Pledgehog Project to pursue a Hedgehog Friendly School Award. This initiative focuses on safeguarding hedgehogs, improving their natural habitats, and spreading awareness on how individuals can contribute to their conservation. The school is diligently working through a hedgehog-friendly toolkit, aiming to complete as many actions as possible, with award results expected in June.
Supporting Wildlife Through Education and Action
The Hedgehog Friendly Schools Project, managed by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS UK) and funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, offers a structured framework for universities, colleges, students' unions, and primary schools to foster positive change for hedgehogs and other wildlife. It empowers staff and students to understand and mitigate their impact on nature. Last year, Jen Walker, the Pledgehog project officer at Sustaining Dunbar, and Emma Martindale from Nature on the Mind began collaborating with West Barns Primary School and East Lothian Council's Amenities Team to implement wildlife-friendly enhancements on the school grounds.
Jen Walker expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "It's fantastic that the school is getting so involved with learning about hedgehogs and doing their bit for hedgehog conservation. These much-loved mammals are now classed as 'at risk of extinction,' so the work they are doing is important to help this declining species. There are hedgehogs around West Barns, so I hope that the school grounds will be a natural haven for them to shelter, feed safely, and hopefully breed in the future. We also hope to record them on a night-time camera, which will provide a wonderful insight into their secret lives."
Tangible Steps Toward Conservation
West Barns Primary School has already made significant progress toward the award by undertaking several key actions:
- Creating hedgehog habitats through the installation of a hedgehog house and log piles.
- Leaving areas of grass uncut to boost insect populations, which serve as food for hedgehogs.
- Planting native hedges to provide shelter and corridors for wildlife.
- Developing hedgehog display boards to educate the school community.
- Organizing litter picks to maintain a clean and safe environment for animals.
A Pupil Action Group, comprising representatives from each class, is spearheading this project. One child shared, "It gives us a good feeling to be planning actions that will help animals. If we grow wild areas in our school, that will be good for the hedgehogs, other animals, and it is good for us too."
Enthusiasm and Impact Recognized
Bethany Holmes, Biodiversity project manager and coordinator at SOS UK, praised the school's efforts, saying, "It's wonderful to see how positively pupils, parents, and staff at West Barns Primary School have embraced the Hedgehog Friendly Schools Project. Through hands-on activities like creating habitats and improving their school grounds, pupils are developing a real connection with nature. Hedgehogs are a brilliant gateway species for learning about nature and conservation, and the enthusiasm shown by the school is fantastic. The actions they're taking will make a real difference for local wildlife and put them in a strong position as they work towards achieving their Hedgehog Friendly Schools Award."
This project not only aims to secure an award but also instills a lasting appreciation for wildlife conservation among young learners, fostering a greener future for East Lothian.
