AN animal welfare campaigner wants more Alsager schools to follow the lead of an innovative project and become 'hedgehog-friendly'.

Pikemere Primary School has become the town's first school to improve access for hedgehogs and other small animals by installing new fencing with wildlife gaps at regular intervals.

Helped by volunteers from Alsager Urban Wildlife Initiative staff at the Hassall Road school took down its chain link fencing, which was impenetrable to hedgehogs.

The volunteers, led by local hedgehog champion William Beddow, a former pupil at the school, have now released two orphan hedgehogs into the school grounds, where they've happily settled in the purpose-built hedgehog bunkers.

The school has also agreed to grow a two-metre wide 'wild border' which will attract further wildlife.

Cllr Jane Smith, who is a member of the Animal Welfare Party, helped see Alsager Town Council pass a 'Hedgehogs Motion' in 2018, requesting wildlife tunnels in all new walls and fencing.

Hedgehog populations in the UK are declining due to a combination of habitat loss, gardening practice such as slug pellets and strimming, as well as road traffic.

Wildlife tunnels help hedgehogs access foraging, nesting and mating opportunities by passing through 'corridors' of gardens at night.

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"We would like all the schools in Alsager to do this in their grounds as well as sports clubs and churches. We would like 'hedgehog connectivity' across Alsager," said Cllr Smith.

"Residents could do it too and create wildlife tunnels at their properties. Hedgehogs need to access 20 odd gardens in a night as part of their natural behaviour.

"Other animals need this connectivity too. Toads need to access different gardens, so when people build solid walls and fences it stops small animals from travelling for foraging and nesting."

Alsager Urban Wildlife Initiative was founded by Antony Cook to help ensure nature and wildlife have a place in the town.

The group's volunteers have built hedgehog habitats at Milton Park and have pioneered a wildlife tunnel retro-fitting service for residents using a drill that can retro-fit hedgehog holes into concrete gravelboard.

"Connectivity between gardens and green spaces is the number one thing local wildlife needs from us, so the wildlife tunnels scheme is a key component of our work," said Antony.

A spokesperson for Pikemere School said: "We've been working very closely with William and with Alsager Urban Wildlife Initiative to make the school a hedgehog-friendly environment and a safe haven for this species whose numbers are rapidly diminishing in the UK."

Any schools, residents, businesses or clubs wishing to have Alsager Urban Wildlife Initiative's volunteers install a 5" diameter wildlife tunnel in their own fences or walls (with permission from their neighbours) should e-mail [email protected].

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Alsager Urban Wildlife Initiative is looking for more volunteers and if you are interested about the group's work you can contact Antony on 07800 666259.