Hedgehog project to feature on BBC Scotland's Landward

A project designed to encourage hedgehogs to feel more at home was set up in the town in 2022 thanks to a funding grant.

Now, it will feature on BBC Scotland’s farming and countryside programme Landward.

Presenter Rosie Morton met with Jen Walker, Sustaining Dunbar’s Pledgehog Project officer, to see what she is doing to help the little mammals survive in the town.

Jen said: "It has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the work the project is doing.

“Encouraging locals to make their gardens or outdoor spaces more hedgehog friendly is not only beneficial to hedgehog conservation but can also foster an interest in the natural environment, providing positive mental and physical health benefits, as well as connecting communities as people share their mutual interest in these special creatures.”

Rosie Morton, from BBC's Landward, is welcomed to Dunbar by Sustaining Dunbar's Pledgehog Officer Jen Walker at Dunbar Harbour. Image: Louise Davidson-Clyne

The television crew visited the town and were given a tour of its various green spaces.

Jen told the Courier: “It was a lovely day filming.

“We initially met at the harbour, then visited Dunbar Primary School’s Nursery in the Beehive Wildlife Garden and joined children on a bug hunt and explored how important they are for hedgehogs.

“After that Rosie chatted with one of the residents at Lammermuir House Care Home to hear about his enjoyment of finding out about the hedgehog garden visitor there.

“Finally, we ended at Belhaven Community Garden and talked about what people can do to help hedgehogs in their gardens.”

READ MORE: Dunbar Pledgehog Project aims to help county's hedgehogs

The Dunbar Pledgehog Project is run by Sustaining Dunbar thanks to funding from the Dunbar Community Council’s ‘community benefit fund’ in 2022, Dunbar and East Linton Area Partnership and Belhaven Brewery in 2023 and Viridor and SafeDeposits Scotland in 2024.

The Dunbar Pledgehog Project will be on Landward tomorrow at 8.30pm on the BBC Scotland channel and then will be repeated on BBC2 on Sunday, usually at about 9.30am.

It will also be possible to watch on BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yf0t an for more information about the Dunbar Pledgehog Project go to www.sustainingdunbar.org/projects/thepledgehog-project.