Hedgehogs go on the march in Chichester

Nine schools are involved in the Hedgehog March, which launched yesterday with cardboard creatures appearing in the windows of shops and businesses.

Hundreds of these hedgehogs will be making there way into the city centre before a big gathering on February 24.

Pupils at St Philip Howard Catholic High School, in Elm Grove South, Barnham, have made a film of the hedgehogs’ journey, including filming at Chichester and Barnham railway stations.

Ben Lewis, who is in year eight, said: “When I joined the project I thought we would make 30 or 50 hedgehogs. Now we are making a few hundred.

“Seeing other people making hedgehogs makes me feel proud of what we have achieved. I’ve enjoyed working on the project and I look forward to seeing the end result.”

The idea is to spread the Life’s Lovely at Twenty message to look out for hedgehogs, pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles while driving.

Ana Mankiewicz, 20mph and Bike It officer, said: “Crossing the road can be scary, especially when you’re little. Cars and vans seem to go by so fast that it can be hard to know when it’s safe to cross. But the hedgehogs are coming to help.

“Chichester is leading the way in making our roads safer by slowing down the traffic and Chichester schoolchildren are helping to send the message that ‘life’s lovely at twenty’ with their Hedgehog March to the centre of Chichester.”

Children from St Philip Howard plus Parklands Community Primary School, The March C E Primary School, Southbourne Infant School, Southbourne Junior School, St Richard’s Catholic Primary School, Lancastrian Infant School, Jessie Younghusband Primary School and Kingsham Primary School have designed and made more than 300 hedgehogs so far.

The Hedgehog March is funded by West Sussex County Council and Sustrans in partnership with Chichester District Council, Sussex Rail Network Partnership and local schools.

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