The Surrey Heath Hedgehog Survey is monitoring the presence of hedgehogs on 250 unique sites across the borough. We are carrying out annual surveys of hedgehogs in Surrey Heath over a four year period. We are adding to this information with data collected from residents. Project Amazing Grace is raising awareness throughout the borough of the needs of hedgehogs, to encourage simple changes to peoples gardens, work space and public spaces to support hedgehogs.
We are working with our MP Michael Gove, the borough council, parish councillors, residents, schools, developers and community groups to enhance the available habitat for hedgehogs. If you would like to become a Surrey Heath Surveyor please fill in the form below and we will contact you and book you on one of our zoom training courses. All ages are well come, but if you are under 18 you will need to do the survey with a responsible adult.
You can find out more about types of surveys that will help Grace on our surveyors page.
Our Project Amazing Grace data map on hedgehog activity in the Borough and beyond.
We need your help. We have been installing hedgehog footprint tunnels at different locations across Surrey Heath for the last three years with our volunteer surveyors.
Footprint tunnels are an easy and effective way of establishing whether hedgehogs are present in an area and can be used with very little training, which we offer at our training evenings throughout the year.
You do not have to be a footprint expert! We will train you via zoom and we provide you with all the survey kit and footprint guides! These surveys can be undertaken throughout the year. They involve a commitment of setting up a site and then surveying it for five consecutive days. The tunnels must be checked and re-baited every day during daylight hours in this five day period.
We have sites all across the borough of Surrey Heath which need surveying – some require only one tunnel and some require more, so we can cater for all volunteer commitment levels and it suitable for all ages.
In order to survey for hedgehogs, footprint tunnels are used which are baited with food. Tunnels are placed in areas which are suitable for hedgehogs and generally along linear features which are preferred by hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are really ‘Edgehogs” and tend to walk around the edge of an area. Once a hedgehog or other animal smells the food, it enters the tunnel and walks over the ink which is either side of the food bowl. The animal then eats the food and walks back out of the tunnel over pieces of white paper, leaving their distinctive footprints behind.
If you would like to help us survey sites on Surrey Heath please fill in the form below to register your interest and we will let you know the zoom training dates. We will use the data collected to influence local efforts regarding hedgehog conservation.
Get in touch today and help us survey for hedgehogs on private land within Surrey Heath.
Please fill in the form below to become a surveyor NOW
Surrey Heath Borough Council’s estate extends to around 9,500 hectares. The total population of Surrey Heath, according to the 2011 census, is 86,144, which is a 7.3% increase since the previous census. There are 33,546 households in the 9,509 hectares covering the Borough.
There are over 600 acres (242 hectares) of open space and countryside in Surrey Heath, including formal parks, sports fields, woodlands, countryside sites and amenity open space. Of these, Lightwater Country Park, Frimley Lodge Park and Chobham Water Meadows make up some of the larger spaces in the area. Woodland sites like Diamond Ridge Woods provide important natural buffers between the busy A30 and nearby residential areas. Natural open spaces in the Hedgehog Improvement Area lie adjacent to other, larger areas of countryside, including Bagshot Heath, making them an important connecting corridor for wildlife.