SPRINGFIELD Properties has unveiled the winning hedgehog highway design for its Strathkinness development to mark National Hedgehog Day.
The housebuilder worked with P7 pupils at Strathkinness Primary School to design a frame for the corridors that allow hedgehogs to safely roam via small opening in fences to connect each garden.
Springfield explained that the openings will allow hedgehogs to roam in gardens and thus reduce how far they need to travel to forage for food, as well as lowering the amount of road crossings.
Strathkinness Primary School’s Greta’s woodland-themed design was chosen to mark the launch of the hedgehog highway in the garden of the five-bedroom detached Dunrobin show home.
Springfield regional sales director, Liz Cleghorn, said, “All of the designs were imaginative and really well done – it was a challenge to choose just one design to use for the hedgehog highways! Greta’s sketch stood out to us as we felt the woodland theme was a lovely nod to Strathkinness as a beautiful rural village that is home to ample wildlife.
“We welcomed the suggestion to include hedgehog highways as we pride ourselves on delivering high quality homes in developments where careful consideration has been given to the environment and local biodiversity. Hedgehogs are in decline across Scotland and the hedgehog highway is intended to help safeguard those which also call our development home.”
Greta added, “I don’t really know what inspired my design – the idea just popped into my head. We’ve been learning about the environment at school, and I really care about the environment so I was excited to design something that will help the hedgehogs.”