No Mow May blamed for rise in hedgehog injuries

A hedgehog hospital owner has said No Mow May contributed to a "heartbreaking" rise in injuries.

During No Mow May gardeners and councils were urged to let grass grow to promote wildlife.

But Sue Stubley, founder of Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital, said animals nestled in longer grass, only to get badly injured when it was finally strimmed.

Plantlife, the charity which promoted No Mow May, urged people to check for wildlife before cutting.

Ms Stubley's Newmarket-based hospital cared for 80 injured hedgehogs in May, with 44 suffering from injuries caused by strimmers.

More than 20 had to be euthanised.

Ms Stubley, 61, said the total was "way, way in excess of anything we've had before".

"It's double what we saw the previous year. Quite a lot of it has been due to No Mow May," she said.

"The hedgehogs are having a nice time in the long grass - then they get chopped to bits."

Ms Stubley called for a "re-think" of the No Mow May approach.

"Either cut it [the grass] short and keep it short or leave it long. Don't leave it for a few weeks and come along and strim it.

She said strimmers had left hedgehogs with appalling injuries.

"It's heartbreaking. You should see the ones we're trying to save. They've been stitched and patched up."

The hospital's monthly medical bill was £1,000 higher than ever before.

Plantlife said it issued guidance about protecting wildlife to gardeners who were about to resume mowing or strimming.

The advice included carrying out a search by hand and cutting gradually, so disturbed wildlife could escape.

A spokesperson said: "For those who choose to mow their lawns after letting them grow wilder in May, we endorse them taking care and attention to check areas of longer grass before that first cut."

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society said it backed No Mow May and keeping wild areas for longer periods.

"We encourage everyone gardening for nature to leave areas to grow wild which will provide great nesting spaces and natural food sources for hedgehogs and other wildlife," a spokesperson said.

"The No Mow May campaign motivates people to do this right across the country and benefits wildlife, wildflowers, and pollinators.

"After No Mow May, as always, we would ask that people are very cautious when using cutting machines like strimmers and mowers and that they check carefully for hedgehogs, amphibians, and other wildlife beforehand.

"Leaving an edge or corner to continue to grow wild would be wonderful, we hope No Mow May has inspired people to be a bit less tidy and allow the garden to remain a little more natural."

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