Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 June 2026. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hedgehogs: Essex

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with local authorities in Essex on improving a) urban and b) rural environments for hedgehogs.

Answer: This Government has supported Essex County Council to develop the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This has brought local authorities, communities, landowners and conservation groups together to agree priorities to help nature recover and support locally and nationally important species. Hedgehogs are a priority species in the Essex LNRS, and the strategy maps specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement to benefit hedgehogs.

Secondary information