E-petition debate: protecting the UK's hedgehog population
A debate on hedgehogs will be held on 5 July 2021 after e-petition 550379 received over 100,000 signatures. The petition calls for the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection. However, the Government has said that moving hedgehogs to Schedule 5 of the Act would not address the main threat to the species which is habitat loss.
Recent studies have shown that hedgehog numbers are in decline, particularly in rural areas. The animals are currently protected under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence for them to be killed or taken by certain methods.
E-petition 550379, ‘Protect the UK's dwindling hedgehog population before it's too late’, received 108,327 signatures before it closed on 1 April 2021. It calls on the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection, stating that the change would give greater protection and hopefully help their numbers recover.
The Government has stated that there are currently no plans to give hedgehogs further legal protection. However, an evidence-based review of Schedule 5 of the Act is being carried out by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Government will consider any recommendations arising from this.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society support the petition and have worked with the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species to raise awareness about the decline of hedgehogs.
The topic will be debated on Monday 5 July in Westminster Hall.