Kildare schools compete 'Project Hedgehog'

FOUR Kildare schools have recently completed An Taisce’s Green-Schools ‘Project Hedgehog’, a two-year pilot programme which supports local wildlife and creating more hedgehog-friendly school grounds.

The schools participating in the initiative were St Colmcille’s National School, Moone, Bunscoil Bhríde, Rathangan, Scoil Choca Naofa, Kilcock, and St Raphael’s Special School, Celbridge Throughout the programme, all schools demonstrated a strong commitment to biodiversity conservation by monitoring wildlife, raising awareness and making practical improvements to habitats.

Trail cameras installed as part of the project captured a hedgehog, foxes and a variety of garden birds, providing students with a unique opportunity to observe nature on their doorstep.

Hedgehogs are one of Ireland’s most loved wild animals, but their population is declining across Europe. Habitat loss is one of the main reasons for this decline. Initiatives such as “Project Hedgehog” support local wildlife while helping young people connect with nature.

The programme concluded with a workshop at St Colmcille’s National School in Moone, where Green-Schools Officers checked the progress of 100 native trees planted earlier this year.

Every student in the school played a role in planting these trees, which will form a new hedgerow on the school grounds.

During the workshop, students learned how to care for and identify the different native species planted and explored the many benefits hedgerows provide for biodiversity.

The new hedgerow will help connect existing habitats around the school, creating valuable shelter and safe passage for hedgehogs and other wildlife.

Students also installed a hedgehog house in a quiet, undisturbed area of the school grounds and will continue to monitor the site over the coming months in the hope that it attracts some new residents.