Category: Events

Categories
Campaign Events

Big Hog-Friendly Litter Pick Challenge 2023

Litter is one of the main threats to hedgehogs living in urban environments, such as our campus. To help create a safe and welcoming space for them in Salford, we’ve signed up to this year’s Big Hog-Friendly Litter Pick Challenge!

The challenge will take place between 19th September and 30th November 2023. The more litter we pick, the higher our chance of winning a hedgehog house and a bag of food for our campus! All participants (whether from the winning team or not) will also receive a digital certificate in recognition of their efforts.

To count in the challenge, the litter picks do not have to take place on campus or in groups – litter can be collected on your street, in a park, during a walk – wherever. Everyone is welcome to join, not only our staff and students, but also anyone from our local community. You can even invite your family to join in! You can borrow litter picking equipment from the local council or join one of our Hedgehog Friendly Litter Picks in Peel Park, every other Tuesday at 12pm!

The next litter pick will take place in Peel Park on Tuesday, September 26th, 12:00-13:00. Sign up here

Take photos of your bags full of litter and email them to Marta at m.a.strzelecka1@salford.ac.uk. These don’t have to be bin bags – you can use any bags you’ve got, e.g. shopping bags; this will be accounted for by the judges. At the end of the challenge, we’ll send all photos to the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Team. You can also use the tag  #HedgehogFriendlySalford on social media to share the photos with other litter pickers in our area.

By taking part in the challenge you’ll also help us work towards the next Hedgehog Friendly Campus award. We received Gold earlier this year and we’re now working towards Platinum. 

Litter picking safety tips

Please avoid:

  • Sharp objects (e.g. broken glass)
  • Clinical waste (e.g. syringes)
  • Hazardous areas (e.g. fast running rivers)
  • Litter picking by yourself if possible
  • Heavy lifting

Please ensure that you:

  • Wear gloves
  • Cover any cuts
  • Keep hands away from your eyes and mouth
  • Wash hands straight away after litter picking
  • Wear sturdy, appropriate footwear and waterproofs if needed
  • Recycle any plastic, glass and aluminium (if possible)
  • If you find any dangerous, poisonous or hazardous materials, contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.

Here you can find more info about the Hedgehog Friendly Campus at Salford.

Want to get involved in the campaign? Click here to join our working group on Teams!

Follow the University of Salford Hedgehog Friendly Campus team on social media:

Categories
Campaign Events

The Big Hog-Friendly Litter Pick Challenge

Litter is one of the main threats to hedgehogs living in urban environments. Unfortunately, many of them die because of it every year. To help create a safe and welcoming space for them on our campus, we’ve signed up to this year’s Big Hog-Friendly Litter Pick Challenge!

About the challenge

The challenge takes place between 20th September and 30th November 2022. The more litter we pick, the higher our chance of winning a hedgehog house and a bag of food for our campus! All participants (whether from the winning team or not) will also receive a digital certificate in recognition of their efforts.

To count in the challenge, the litter picks do not have to take place on campus or in groups – litter can be collected on your street, in a park, during a walk – wherever! Everyone is welcome to join – not only our staff and students but also anyone from our local community. You can even invite your family to join in, wherever they live.

The next litter pick will take place in Peel Park on Tuesday, 4th October , 15:00-16:00. Sign up here.

Take photos of your bags full of litter and email them to Marta at m.a.strzelecka1@salford.ac.uk. These don’t have to be bin bags – you can use any bags you’ve got, e.g. shopping bags; this will be accounted for by the judges. At the end of the challenge, we’ll send all photos to the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Team. We’ve now also got a Litter Picking Hub on campus – get in touch with us in touch with us if you’d like to borrow litter picking equipment.

By taking part in the challenge you’ll also help us work towards the next Hedgehog Friendly Campus award. We received Silver earlier this year and we’re now working towards Gold. 

Litter picking safety tips

Please avoid:

  • Sharp objects (e.g. broken glass)
  • Clinical waste (e.g. syringes)
  • Hazardous areas (e.g. fast running rivers)
  • Litter picking by yourself if possible
  • Heavy lifting

Please ensure that you:

  • Wear gloves
  • Cover any cuts
  • Keep hands away from your eyes and mouth
  • Wash hands straight away after litter picking
  • Wear sturdy, appropriate footwear and waterproofs if needed
  • Recycle any plastic, glass and aluminium
  • Adhere to the Government Covid procedures 
  • If you find any dangerous, poisonous or hazardous materials, contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
  • Here you can find more info about the Hedgehog Friendly Campus at Salford.
  • Read our previous blog post to learn more about how litter affects hedgehogs.
  • Want to get involved in the campaign? Click here to join our working group on Teams!
  • Follow the University of Salford Hedgehog Friendly Campus team on social media: Twitter and Instagram
Categories
Campaign Events General

How littering affects hedgehogs

Happy Hedgehog Awareness Week! 

This annual event aims to raise the profile of hedgehogs in the UK and spread awareness of the problems they face, as well as the ways we can help them. Hedgehogs have been listed as vulnerable on the Red List for Britain’s native mammals, which highlights species at risk of extinction in the next 20 years.

As hedgehogs and other animals move to the expanding urban areas, they face a number of threats and challenges – one of which is littering. In fact, RSPCA receives about 5,000 calls a year about animals affected by this. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk, as they are inquisitive by nature, which often causes them to get stuck or entangled in rubbish while looking for food. Here’s a list of household items which are the most common causes of harm to hedgehogs, along with some tips to prevent that.

  • Plastic bags – this includes shopping bags and bin bags. Hedgehogs can get inside them and suffocate, or try to eat them and choke. Tip: tie a knot in the top of the bag before disposal.
  • Plastic can holders – hedgehogs can get entangled in them or suffer wounds or choke. Tip: cut each loop open before recycling.
  • Balloons – hedgehogs can swallow them and choke. Tip: deflate and cut balloons before disposal. Or, better yet, opt for paper decorations and recycle them afterwards. 
  • Plastic containers and cans – hedgehogs can get stuck in these, or injured by sharp edges. Tip: clean and empty containers after use and pinch cans shut, or cut containers in half before disposal.
  • Elastic bands – hedgehogs can get entangled in these or swallow them and choke. Tip: reuse elastic bands when possible and cut them open before disposal.
  • Chewing gum – hedgehogs can get stuck in it or try eat it and choke. Tip: dispose of it in the bin (it’s best to use a dedicated recycling bin, if there’s one around you).
  • Glass – hedgehogs can get trapped in containers such as jars, or injured on broken glass. Tip: clean and recycle.
  • Netting – this includes nets used for plants, fruit and vegetables, sports nets, etc. Hedgehogs can get entangled in these. Tip: try to avoid buying produce sold in nets, or cut them open before disposal. For tree netting, here you can find a wildlife friendly netting guide.

The best, and easiest, way to help hedgehogs on a daily basis is to make sure that we dispose of our rubbish responsibly by putting it in the correct bin, and reusing items whenever we can. You can also make a donation to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society here to support their work.

Join us this afternoon for the Hedgehog Awareness Litter Pick to help keep our local area clear of litter and safe for spiky visitors. Sign up here.

Sources: RSPCA, British Hedgehog Preservation Society