Farmers to blame for hedgehog decline

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
Very poor research by the BBC reporter (yet again).

I would suggest she draws a graph for the last 20 yrs, showing three things.....
1. Miles of hedge removed on farms.

2. Hedgehog numbers.

3. Badger numbers.

.....and then has another stab at what the cause is.
More miles of hedgerows will have been planted in the last 20 yrs than have been removed.
 

Bramble

Member
Very poor research by the BBC reporter (yet again).

I would suggest she draws a graph for the last 20 yrs, showing three things.....
1. Miles of hedge removed on farms.

2. Hedgehog numbers.

3. Badger numbers.

.....and then has another stab at what the cause is.
More miles of hedgerows will have been planted in the last 20 yrs than have been removed.
Have emailed her suggesting exactly this
 

MrNoo

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Cirencester
I have them in the garden, am in the cull area too but to be fair very few badgers (they dont like digging in the stone) plenty of field margins etc too.
 

theboytheboy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Portsmouth

roscoe erf

Member
Livestock Farmer
It is a "stark contrast" in towns and cities though, where the data showed that hedgehog populations may be starting to recover.
I wonder why is it because they are not being predated by a big smelly mammal (better make it clear badger not farmer)


They have lived here for at least half a million years," she said. "So we need to understand how conservationists, farmers and land managers can work together to prevent hedgehogs from becoming extinct in the countryside.

well another easy one for anyone with a bit of common and involves the said same smelly mammal
 

quattro

Member
Location
scotland
It is a "stark contrast" in towns and cities though, where the data showed that hedgehog populations may be starting to recover.
I wonder why is it because they are not being predated by a big smelly mammal (better make it clear badger not farmer)


They have lived here for at least half a million years," she said. "So we need to understand how conservationists, farmers and land managers can work together to prevent hedgehogs from becoming extinct in the countryside.

well another easy one for anyone with a bit of common and involves the said same smelly mammal
I thought the idiot who picked the dead one up said it smelt lovely
theres a reason nothing eats dead ones!!!
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Very poor research by the BBC reporter (yet again).

I would suggest she draws a graph for the last 20 yrs, showing three things.....
1. Miles of hedge removed on farms.

2. Hedgehog numbers.

3. Badger numbers.

.....and then has another stab at what the cause is.
More miles of hedgerows will have been planted in the last 20 yrs than have been removed.

There's also far more uncropped field margins than there used to be as well. How long has the 2m margin around all arable fields been a Cross Compliance requirement?
 
There have been many 'research' projects conducted and published on hedgehogs v. badgers, so no excuses for lazy, lazy journos or presenters prattling absolute rubbish.


That spiny coat protects hedgehogs from most predators, - but not badgers, who roll them over, pin down their front paws and peel them like an orange. Leaving just the skin behind.
 

Turnip

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
‘Loss of hedgerows and field margins’ - no mention of f...ing badgers :banghead:
Lets make the quote complete:
"The familiar, prickly mammals need hedgerows and field margins; loss of those could be driving the decline."
My emphasis on could added. As far as I can see there is no finger pointing to farmers as the article seems to focus on what the general public can do to help the hedgehogs.
 

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
Cuddly things, aren't they...

1645521373235.png


1645521504032.png
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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