Searching for hedgehogs with BBC Springwatch

Hedgehogs are one of the nation’s favourite species, yet there’s been a worrying nationwide decline in hedgehog numbers in the last 25 years and The Regent’s Park is now the only central London Royal Park with a breeding population.

With the help of top wildlife scientists and over 100 volunteers, we discovered a small population of around 40-50 animals living and breeding in the Park in 2014. Our hedgehog team returned to The Regent’s Park in May this year to see how the population has fared over the winter and find out more about their nocturnal activities. You can read all about the research and our findings here.

Michaela Strachan and a BBC Springwatch film crew helped us find the first animal of 2015. Tune in tonight on BBC2 from 8-9pm to find out all about this vulnerable group of hedgehogs and what we’re doing to help protect them.

We’re working in partnership with The Royal Parks, The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), two eminent wildlife scientists (Dr Nigel Reeve and Professor John Gurnell) and over 100 volunteers, to complete this research project.

 “Thanks to the exceptional efforts of all those involved, the data we have gathered this May will provide crucial detail about the behaviour of hedgehogs in the Park,” states Dr Nigel Reeve.  “As well as the use of GPS and radio tracking devices, the use of thermal imaging cameras has allowed us to detect hedgehogs more reliably and to observe their activities with minimal disturbance.”

Find out more about the project and how you can help the hedgehogs here!