Salford residents have the opportunity to help their local wildlife with litter-picking walks designed to be kind to hedgehogs.
The Salford Ranger Team are partnering with the Environment and Sustainability Team University of Salford to host hedgehog-friendly litter picks in Peel Park.
The University is part of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative, which is ran by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
The initiative offers free support to help FE colleges, primary schools and universities make positive changes to hedgehogs.
These litter picks help to create a clean and safe environment for hedgehogs and other wildlife to thrive, whilst reducing any threats they may face.
Littering heavily contributes to these threats, as many of the materials are not biodegradeable.
This means they get smaller, and eventually degrade into microplastics and nanoplastics, consequently polluting the environment.
Zoe Pegg, Environmental Management Assistant at the University of Salford, said: “We’re doing this to give people a chance to come and get involved.
“I think getting involved with nature and sustainability is really hard for some people, so these litter picks offer a direct way of feeling like you’re making an impact.”
The hedgehog friendly litter picks are hosted every other Tuesday, with the next taking place on March 25.
They are completely free to attend, and litter picking equipment is provided.
Anybody who has an interest in helping the environment is encouraged to take part.
Zoe continued: “We need to start cleaning up litter but also stop people dropping it in the first place.
“I think being out here as a group helps people realise that maybe they shouldn’t drop litter right now, because there are people picking it up for you.”
Whilst the main aim of the litter picks are to help improve the environment, they can also improve the wellbeing of those taking part.
Ali Reichardt, a student at the University, took part in the litter pick hosted on March 11.
Ali said: “It’s great to see that people actually care about the environment.
“I think it’s a great community activity, actually getting out in the fresh air and doing something positive for the world.
“It’s very much about wellbeing, not only for us taking part but for people visiting the park and the wildlife.”
More information about the litter picks and how to reserve a ticket can be found here.
More information about the Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative can be found here.
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