About

Come along on our morning hedgehog walk on Barnes Common, led by the founder of Barnes Hedgehogs, Michel Birkenwald, and find out everything you wanted to know about hedgehogs.

Michel will tell you how the Barnes Hedgehog Highway was started, sharing his experience in discovering and helping our local hedgehogs. Learn about the secret life of hedgehogs including the best snacks to feed them, where do they all go in winter, and how you can you help hedgehogs and other wild animals in your garden.

Please note: because hedgehogs are nocturnal, it is unlikely that you will see a hedgehog during this walk. You will, however, hear many stories about them, and explore their territory.

This easy walk is approximately an hour and a half long and will start and finish at the Vine Road Pavilion on Vine Road.

This walk takes place outdoors and as such please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.

If the weather is warm, you may wish to bring a bottle of water.

The founders of Barnes Hedgehogs, Michel and Robin have invited Barnes Common to take on the species champion role and help the survival of these threatened mammals. We are pleased to do this alongside our related work on hedgehogs and other species within the Richmond Biodiversity Group's habitat and species action plans.

Local volunteers and founders, Michel and Robin continue to offer a service to cut small access holes in fences as part of the construction of the Barnes Hedgehog Highway. They already have a network of gardens across Barnes, so why not add yours to it!

If you're interested in helping this project by joining the highway, or by volunteering, please get in touch!

We have another walk at 8am on this day - why not join both? Ticket holders to our Hedgehog Friendly Walk can purchase a discounted ticket to the (Not Quite) Morning Chorus walk (and vice versa).

Refreshments and snacks will be available from the Vine Road Café with a 50% discount on hot and cold drinks for event attendees.