Nottingham Trent University’s commitment to improving its estate to help the UK’s hedgehog population has been recognised, with its Mansfield Hub achieving a Hedgehog Friendly Campus bronze award.
Taking part in the challenge for the first time, the award was achieved following actions across the site and the community to raise awareness and create a legacy for hedgehogs.
Actions included a hedgehog hazards audit and litter pick, alongside raising more than £270 for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
On allocating the award, the independent auditor of NTU’s submission praised the University’s hedgehog ambassadors for going, ‘above and beyond’ in their work both on and off campus, and for their ongoing, ‘commitment and dedication.’
Emma Hayes, User Experience Team Leader, NTU Mansfield, is already looking to upgrade the award from with further actions over the coming year:
“Working towards the Hedgehog Friendly Campus bronze award has provided us with the opportunity to engage with students and staff in so many ways this year. All our activities have aimed to inform and educate our campus community in creative ways - from fundraising at the Festive Fair to raising awareness of the plight of hedgehogs with craft activities, and from organising a litter pick to building bug hotels with Foundation Degree Education students.
We are particularly proud of raising £279 for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and creating hedgehog friendly spaces on the Mansfield campus… and of course Hilary H Hogrid, our giant cardboard hedgehog!
We have thoroughly enjoyed working on the actions to achieve Hedgehog Friendly Campus bronze award and can’t wait to get started on the silver award actions in 2024/25.”