skip to main content
The Royal Parks web site uses cookies. By browsing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie policy
  • Home
  • Media Centre
  • Careers
  • Shop
  • Contact us
  • searchsearch
The Royal Parks menu
  • Help Nature Thrive
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Climate and Conservation
    • How to get involved
  • Parks
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    • Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    • Make a donation
    • Give a significant gift 
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Tributes in your local park
  • Learn
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Donate
searchSearch
  • The Royal Parks
  • Help Nature Thrive
    arrow_drop_down
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Climate and Conservation
    • How to get involved
  • Parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    arrow_drop_down
    • Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    arrow_drop_down
    • Make a donation
    • Give a significant gift 
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Tributes in your local park
  • Learn
    arrow_drop_down
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    arrow_drop_down
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    arrow_drop_down
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  •  
  • Donate
    • Home
    • Media Centre
    • Careers
    • Shop
    • Contact us

Unearthing the secret lives of hedgehogs in London’s Regent’s Park

We're working in partnership with The Royal Parks and The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to find out why The Regent’s Park is the only central London Royal Park to have retained a resident hedgehog population whilst hedgehog numbers are declining nationwide.

In July and September, we brought together expert scientists, wildlife conservation organisations and local volunteers to conduct a range of night-time surveys.

The aims of this research were to help:

  • Find out more about the size of the hedgehog populations in The Regent's Park and observe their movements, feeding and nesting habits
  • Develop habitat recommendations to help conserve the hedgehog population in The Regent’s Park and inform other parks and urban open spaces around the country
  • Educate the local community and park users about the resident hedgehog population so that they will help protect and support them in the future

Dr Nigel Reeve, one of the UK’s leading hedgehog experts says: "This is a fantastic opportunity to investigate this population for which we had no information at all. For the first time, we can obtain some real data which allows us to understand how hedgehogs use the park."

Survey results

A total of 45 individual hedgehogs were found during the survey indicating a significant population in a park of this size – 1.6 km2 (160ha). Some of the animals were seen to cover an area of up to 30,000 m2 (3ha) in a single night and their preferred park habitat appeared to be rough grassland and shrubby areas.

Far from ambling slowly, hedgehogs are actually quite athletic travelling up to 1.5 km, nearly one mile, per night according to the survey’s initial findings. In the scale of a hedgehog’s body size and average leg length (10 cm), that’s the human equivalent of a man with a 32-inch inside leg walking 12 km (7.5 miles) every day and more than 50 miles a week. Alternatively, 1.5 km is three stops on the Underground between Regent’s Park and The Angel, Islington!

Julia Clark, The Royal Park’s head of ecology said: "For Regent’s Park to be the only central London Park with a viable population of hedgehogs is a significant find. We know that urban landscapes are increasingly important to hedgehogs. The results from this survey such as habitat preferences will enable us to create more hedgehog friendly habitats across London’s Royal Parks. Everyone can help reverse the trend of this declining species by planting native hedges, leaving ‘wild’ areas in gardens or simply by making small holes in walls or fences to connect gardens.”

Hedgehog heroes

More than 60 volunteers, aged from 20 to 70 years old, known as ‘hedgehog heroes’,  joined eminent wildlife biologists Dr Nigel Reeve and Professor John Gurnell and the team to help undertake this unique hedgehog survey.

Hedgehog heroes learnt to spotlight the prickly animals with specialised LED torches and hi-tech tracking equipment was used to monitor and observe hedgehogs during the night without intrusion. Some of the hedgehogs had bespoke lightweight radios and miniature GPS transmitters attached for one week to track their movements around the park. The team also positioned footprint tunnels in strategic locations with Frankfurters as bait to tempt in the hedgehogs. A dozen night cameras then captured their ‘sniffing’ and foraging behaviour.

Kat Ellis, aged 25, lives in Holborn and says the project was the first time she’d seen a hedgehog in the city. Kat said: "Being involved in this study was so eye-opening. I never realised that these amazing little mammals literally live on my doorstep. The highlight was definitely handling a real-life hedgehog (something I never imagined I would do!) I now see the parks through different eyes and will do all I can to help support them.”

This partnership research project also includes supporting partners Central Royal Parks Wildlife Group, Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species and Untyped, and has been made possible thanks to a private gift given to the Royal Parks Foundation.

Professor John Gurnell from Queen Mary, University of London will present final research findings from the survey in spring 2015.

27 October 2014

Help us improve our website by providing your feedback.

Website user survey

close

search
Explore the Royal Parks
  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James's Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park
  • Greenwich Park Revealed - Park Restoration Project
  • Brompton Cemetery
  • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Grosvenor Square Garden
Support the parks
  • Make a donation
  • Give a significant gift 
  • Leave a gift in your Will 
  • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
  • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
  • Become a partner
  • Corporate volunteering
  • Tributes in your local park
Media Centre
  • Press Releases
  • Royal Parks News Permit
  • Filming and photography
  • Royal Parks Image Library
  • News Archive
  • Trooping the Colour media accreditation
About us
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Procurement
  • Partner organisations
  • Publications
  • Friends of The Royal Parks
  • Contact us
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Connect with us
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Watch our videos on YouTube
The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks is a registered charity (No. 1172042) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no. 10016100 (VAT No. 261 4640 19)

Copyright © The Royal Parks 2016-2022 | Head Office: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UHTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

close

Subscribe to our eNewsletter today

Be the first to hear our latest news and read about upcoming events, learning and volunteering opportunities, fundraising and park improvement projects when you sign up to our mailing list.

Aerial view of Regents