Hedgehogs: Essex
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help prevent decline in hedgehog populations in Essex.
Answered by Mary Creagh
This Government has supported Essex County Council to develop the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This has brought local authorities, communities, landowners and conservation groups together to agree priorities to help nature recover and support locally and nationally important species. Hedgehogs are a priority species in the Essex LNRS, and the strategy maps specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement to benefit hedgehogs.
More broadly, measures such as Countryside Stewardship, the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Biodiversity Net Gain support the creation, restoration and connectivity of habitats, including hedgerows and field margins, which are important for hedgehogs.
Nationally, Natural England is supporting the National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy and co-funding the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which will improve understanding of population trends and the factors driving decline.
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