Into the wild

Girls in Year 3, along with members of the Pipers’ Wildlife and Conservation Club had the opportunity to release hedgehogs into the Pipers woods this week.

10 young hedgehogs were brought to Pipers by former pupil Emma Routledge (who left in 2006) who now works for Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital.  The hedgehogs had lost their parents and had been brought in to the hospital to make sure they were cared for properly until they were well and old enough to be released back into their natural habitat.

The girls prepared the specially built houses and straw for the hedgehogs to make their new homes.  One by one they were relocated with great care and attention to their surroundings.

Emma explained to the girls why the hedgehogs were in the hospital and why they needed to be placed back into the woods.  She also went on to explain what conditions the hedgehogs needed to survive and how the girls can help the hedgehog population as a whole, such as having natural grass in gardens, lots of shrubs and plants for the hedgehogs to hide in and holes in fences so they can travel around.

Forest School Co-ordinator, Miss Easterbrook said “It was a great privilege to welcome Emma back to school to release the hedgehogs into the Pipers grounds. The girls enjoyed being able to witness such an occasion and get up close to the animals.  It was a fantastic lesson in conservation and animal habitats.”

For more photographs, take a look at the Pipers Flickr Gallery.

For more information contact:

Rebecca Conroy, Senior Marketing Executive, Pipers Corner School. Telephone 01494 719850 or email [email protected]