Full Breakdown
Barnes' “Hedgehog Highway” Connects Urban Gardens to Aid Vulnerable Species
6/22/2026, 4:39:07 AM
Barnes' Hedgehog Highway Connects Gardens
Barnes residents have installed a network of hedgehog tunnels and wall openings linking private gardens and green spaces. Known as the “hedgehog highway,” the system includes passages drilled through a Victorian boundary and other fence gaps, allowing nocturnal hedgehogs to move freely across the neighbourhood.
Community Origins and Key Actors
The scheme began when resident Michel Birkenwald launched a campaign after finding a hedgehog in his garden. The idea spread, and volunteers such as Alice Mallorie adapted their own gardens with tunnels and feeding stations. ZSL researchers now work with locals to monitor the network.
Urban Hedgehog Decline and Monitoring Data
Surveys show three-quarters of Britain’s rural hedgehogs have vanished since the turn of the century, and the species is listed as vulnerable to extinction. In London, ZSL’s Institute of Zoology has placed camera traps in 21 boroughs, gathering millions of images to map urban populations.
Impact of Connectivity on Hedgehog Survival
Hedgehogs’ short legs and limited mobility make them vulnerable to urban barriers such as roads, fences, and walls, which restrict access to food and breeding sites. The hedgehog highway provides passages that may improve survival and support population stability in the city.
Official Responses from Conservation Experts
ZSL researcher Kate Scott-Gatty emphasized the species’ decline, its red-list status, and the threat from urban barriers. The Barnes Community Association described the highway as a solution that complements scientific monitoring.
On-the-Ground Reports
In her garden, Mallorie installed feeding stations and a tunnel through a Victorian wall, linking her plot to neighbours. She says observing wildlife in the garden brings satisfaction.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I guess in a very low-key way, being able to see any wildlife in your garden is good for the soul.” — Alice Mallorie, Resident, Barnes
- “You know, they're going down in numbers, so there's something about them which is vulnerable and charming,” — Alice Mallorie, Resident, Barnes
- “Hedgehogs have declined historically throughout Britain and they're now on the red list for British mammals as vulnerable to extinction and we've also seen that decline in London as well.” — Kate Scott-Gatty, Researcher, ZSL Institute of Zoology
- “They're really susceptible to barriers and urban infrastructure, so roads, fences, walls and that means that they can't get to the places that they need to.” — Kate Scott-Gatty, Researcher, ZSL Institute of Zoology
Future Outlook
ZSL continues its camera-trap surveys across the 21 boroughs, and the hedgehog highway remains operational, providing a framework for ongoing urban hedgehog conservation.
