Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

National “Help a Hedgehog” Campaign launched by AHS Direct the Garden Suppliers

A recent feature on the BBC Breakfast programme, concerning 2 orphaned baby hedgehogs (Midge & Slappy) being cared for in an animal centre in the New Forest, has prompted AHS Direct, the East Sussex based on-line provider of home and garden supplies to today launch a national “Help a Hedgehog” Campaign. The campaign is designed to raise consumer awareness about the plight of this familiar and lovable creature, whose numbers are sadly in decline across the British Isles. It is also designed to make people realise how easy it is to make a difference to the future of this prickly mammal.

100's of hedgehogs are killed or injured unnecessarily each year in the garden; mowers, strimmers, dogs, poisons and a massive loss of habitat in the countryside all threaten the hedgehog’s survival. They can also freeze to death or burn to death in bonfires, as they nest among the wood and leaves and lie there unnoticed. “We want everyone to think about the hedgehog, to exercise care when gardening, to check long grass before cutting, inspect pampas grass and bonfires before lighting, check compost before turning, move rubbish up out of their reach and offer them a safe place to hibernate in the winter. They are too familiar and cherished by everyone to let their numbers decline simply because we don’t do anything, and the doing bit is the easiest and it is the bit that has the greatest potential impact to help reduce the decline in numbers” said AHS Direct Marketing Director Jackie Smyth.

Hedgehogs are exceptionally beneficial to the garden eating up to 80 slugs and snails a night, a brilliant natural alternative to slug pellets. AHS Direct has been encouraging gardeners to think about the impact certain gardening methods can have on the environment and launched its “Committed to Change” environmentally friendly gardening policy earlier this year. The “Help a Hedgehog” campaign is the next natural step toward getting creating a more biodiverse gardening environment and preserving the future of a species that could potentially be extinct by 2025. A list of things that can be done to protect the hedgehog is available on the AHS Direct website – www.ahsdirect.co.uk, as well as a range of hedgehog feeds and houses.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society will benefit from the AHS Direct campaign, with £1 from the sale of every hedgehog house being donated to the charity. Fay Vass, Chief Executive of the Society said “We are delighted that AHS Direct has recognised the importance of helping hedgehogs. Hedgehogs have very recently been offered more protection by being added to the Biodiversity Action Plan as a species in need of conservation and greater protection. We all need to play our part in ensuring this species, which was around before sabre-toothed tigers, is nurtured and assisted to enable it to flourish for years to come.”

Note to Editors:

About AHS

Ahs Direct is a trading division of Amenity Horticultural Services Ltd the largest supplier of Bark and compost to the UK landscape and Amenity market. Based in East Sussex the company has been trading for over 15 years now and operates from two sites, Head office and warehousing in Northiam and Web site admin, warehousing and despatch in Rye.
Ahs Direct online garden centre was set up over three years ago and continues to successfully grow year on year. Our mission is to provide excellent customer service, quality products and outstanding prices.

For more info contact:

Jackie Smyth
AHS Direct
Tel: 01797 227300
Email: jackie.smyth@ahs-ltd.co.uk
Website: www.ahsdirect.co.uk

Fay Vass
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Tel: 01584 890801
Email@ info@britishhedgehogs.org.uk
Website: www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk