Property upgrade for Devon hedgehogs

Hedgehogs living in the grounds of a Devon school will sleep in style this winter thanks to local housebuilder David Wilson Homes which has donated a hogitat to Tipton St John Primary School.

The five star housebuilder, which has just launched new homes at Minerva on the outskirts of Exeter, donated the hedgehog home as part of its commitment to supporting local wildlife.

It’s hoped the new home will provide a safe haven as research shows dwindling numbers of the tiny mammals in the UK.

According to a survey of more than 2,600 people by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, more than half of gardeners didn’t’ see a hedgehog at all last year. What’s more, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species reports urban populations of hedgehogs has fallen by up to a third since 2000 and rural populations by at least a half.

In response, David Wilson Homes pledged to install homes for hedgehogs at all of its new communities and is supporting wildlife throughout Devon.

Sales director Sara Parker said: “We can’t help but smile thinking about what the hedgehogs will think when they head into hibernation. They’ll be upgrading from under sheds and in piles of leaves and to a brand-new home, built specially for them.”