Norwich school receives hedgehog home from housebuilder to help prickly pursuit

A school in Rackheath has received a hedgehog home donation for National Hedgehog Awareness Week, to help reverse the decline of the species.

Developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes donated the habitat as part of the annual National Hedgehog Awareness Week, which took place at the beginning of May.

The awareness week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, and aims to highlight the issues hedgehogs face, whilst providing solutions for what people can do to support them.

Following the society’s suggestion to buy or build a hedgehog home, the housebuilder donated a ‘hogitat’ hedgehog home to Rackheath Primary School, located on Willoughby Way near the developer’s Woodland Heath development.

Helen Grogutt, Class Teacher at Rackheath Primary School, said: “We often find a hungry hedgehog within the school grounds so it is lovely to have a safe home for them where we can put some food and water.

“The children were very excited when it arrived and have been keen to find out what type of food we should leave out for hedgehogs. We are fortunate in having a lovely wildlife area with a bug hotel and will initially place our new hedgehog home here and hope for visitors!

“We are very grateful to Barratt and David Wilson homes for this gift.”

As of July 2020, the British hedgehog was officially classified as vulnerable to extinction, meaning it is more important than ever to protect our prickly neighbours.

Annette Hurst, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “As a leading housebuilder, we know that home is where the heart is and that’s true for all types of residents, human or otherwise!

“We hope our donation will give local hedgehogs protection and a safe home at Rackheath Primary School, whilst also encouraging the pupils to consider the wildlife near their own homes.”

Woodland Heath is a development of three and four bedroom homes, offering the perfect village lifestyle while also boasting great commuter links to Norwich city centre, with Norwich Railway Station and Norwich International Airport just a short commute away.

For more information about the new homes being built at Woodland Heath, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8488 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8489. Alternatively, you can visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.