Good news! In the last issue of the newsletter we mentioned that EACH were planning another Gardens Open Day this year in Coney Hall, and the date has now been agreed: Saturday 14th June, 2pm to 5.30pm, so save the date!
If you join in you’ll be able to take a tour and see what EACH supporters in Coney Hall are doing to help wildlife in their own gardens.
Tickets are just £5 each for 10 garden visits (cash only) which includes a cup of tea, coffee or juice at Rouse Farm, a tour of the farm and an opportunity to meet a hedgehog or two! Under 16s go free with an adult. There’ll also be a plant and cake sale.
All money raised will go to our local hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation charity.
For advance tickets and further information(including how to open your own garden, if you’d like to join in), contact: Pauline, pssmith223@btinternet.com or Sarah, sarahlouisechant@icloud.com
Tickets will also be available on the day at participating houses: details to follow.
If you didn’t know, ‘EACH’ stands for Environmental Action Coney Hall. Since 2019, they’ve been working hard to make Coney Hall a pollinator village, by creating wildlife corridors and encouraging residents to protect and promote biodiversity.
Helping local hedgehogs
Here’s some information from the Bromley Biodiversity Partnership, on how to help our local hedgehogs…
Since the year 2000, hedgehog populations in England have declined by 30-75% in rural areas and up to 30% in urban areas (where numbers now seem to be improving slightly).
Hedgehogs live beneath hedgerows, in scrubby areas, gardens and rough grassland where there’s plenty of insect prey, travelling 1-2 kms/night in search of food and mates. Hedgehogs hibernate in deep leaf litter beneath hedges and scrub.
Here are some things to do or look out for in your garden, to help the hedgehog population:
- Have a wild area in your garden.
- Check for hedgehogs before strimming, mowing or having bonfires.
- Keep a 13 x 13cm hole at fence bases so hedgehogs can pass through.
- Avoid pesticides.
- Add a sloping side to ponds so any animals which fall in can climb out.
- Secure wire or netting or make sure it’s at least 15cm above ground.
For more information see hedgehogstreet.org
Reporting hedgehog sightings
If you see any hedgehogs, let Bromley Biodiversity Partnership know. Send the date, postcode or grid reference of the sighting, the number of hedgehogs you’ve seen and any other relevant information to Bromley Biodiversity Partnership: bromleybiodiversity@gmail.com
If you see a sick or injured hedgehog or a hedgehog in daylight (a sign that the animal may be unwell), contact Willow Wildlife Rescue.
Coney Hall Village Residents' Association (CHVRA) 