BURTON Albion has signed up to support Hedgehog Awareness Week.
Organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), which runs from 30th April to 6th May 2017 the club is proud to be amongst the top teams on the Society’s Hedgehog Friendly Football League!
The Brewers are joining forces with the society to promote awareness across the football community of how people can help protect hedgehogs now that they are out of hibernation.
This includes putting special campaign stickers on all pitch mowing equipment to remind staff to check for hedgehogs before use and handing out leaflets to fans at the Leeds game last Saturday.
Fay Vass, Chief Executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said: “We have been delighted at the response to this campaign from the football community and thank Burton Albion for getting involved. Whilst there may not be many hedgehogs present at the Pirelli Stadium, we hope that it will save some lives by encouraging Albion fans to check areas before mowing and strimming, just like their team does! Hedgehogs have been in serious decline for some time now and we need to do all we can to help them.”
Fleur Robinson, Commercial Director of Burton Albion, said: “We are delighted to lend our support to Hedgehog Awareness Week and spread the word about the problems hedgehogs face and how people can help them. I would encourage everyone to take a moment to visit the society’s website and find out how to get involved.”
As well as checking areas before cutting, BHPS has provided a list of other things people can do to help:
• Move piles of rubbish to a new site before burning it;
• Create a CD case size gap at the base of boundary fences in gardens;
• Ensure netting is kept at a safe height;
• Check compost heaps before digging the fork in;
• Stop or reduce the amount of pesticides and poisons used;
• Cover drains or deep holes;
• Ensure there is an easy route out of ponds and pools;
Fay Vass, summed up: “We are asking people to pledge to do at least one positive thing for hedgehogs during the week and if possible let us know, send us pictures of the hedgehog hole or home you create, or from the event you organise!”