Project Amazing Grace
Saving Britain's Hedgehogs One Village at a Time
Project Amazing Grace was set up in 2016 to help the plight of the humble hedgehog. We see hedgehogs on a daily basis in the rescue and the problem that they face in the wild. Hedgehogs are stoic and can adjust to modern life but need our help to secure a healthy and sustainable transition.
At Save Me our part of this fight is to work with the government, developers and industry to make future developments wildlife friendly, wildlife safe and sustainable.
If you are a developer or a planner please contact us for more details.
Amazing Grace: A Small Hedgehog with a Big Mission
On 26 April 2016, Anne Brummer and Sir Brian May launched Amazing Grace at Portcullis House in London. MPs, wildlife advocates and special guests came together to support a campaign inspired by one very small patient with a very big story.
Her name was Grace.
Grace arrived at Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue in autumn 2015. She was underweight and had a deep wound to her neck affected by flystrike. With treatment, care and time to recover, she made a full recovery — and went on to become the inspiration for a campaign to help hedgehogs across Britain.
Our campaign to help Britain’s hedgehogs began in the heart of Parliament
Why hedgehogs need our help
Hedgehogs are among Britain’s most familiar and much-loved wild animals, but they face a growing number of challenges. The loss and fragmentation of habitat, busy roads, garden hazards and the loss of natural food sources can all make life more difficult for them.
A hedgehog may travel through several gardens and green spaces in search of food, water, shelter and a mate. When fences, walls and roads divide these places, an individual hedgehog can find itself cut off from the resources it needs.
Amazing Grace was created to raise awareness of these challenges and show that, by working together, we can make our gardens, communities and countryside safer for hedgehogs.
A special day for Grace and her friends
The launch brought together supporters from across the political spectrum, alongside people who share our determination to protect wildlife.
Anne spoke about the pressures facing hedgehogs and the practical steps that could help them. Fay Vass, Chief Executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, was also there to share her knowledge and expertise.
The event included a moving performance of “Amazing Grace” by Brian May and singer and actress Kerry Ellis — a fitting tribute to the little hedgehog who inspired the campaign.
Guests included actor and wildlife advocate Peter Egan, Marc Abraham and MPs and representatives from several political parties. Everyone came together with a shared purpose: to give hedgehogs a voice.
There were also special vegan “Hoggy” cupcakes and hedgehog-friendly tips for guests to take home!
A small gap can make a big difference
One of the simplest ways to help is to give hedgehogs a safe route between gardens. A small opening at the bottom of a fence or wall can connect neighbouring spaces, allowing hedgehogs to travel in search of everything they need.
At the launch, guests were shown the size of a hedgehog opening and encouraged to make their own gardens Grace-friendly.
You can help by:
Creating a hedgehog highway — a gap approximately 13 cm by 13 cm at the bottom of a fence, with your neighbour’s agreement where needed.
Leaving out fresh water, especially during dry weather.
Providing wild corners, with leaves, logs and longer grass for shelter and natural food.
Checking carefully before strimming or mowing, particularly around long grass, hedges and piles of leaves.
Making ponds safe, with a gently sloping edge or a secure ramp so an animal can climb out.
Avoiding pesticides and slug pellets, which can harm wildlife and reduce the insects and other small creatures hedgehogs depend on.
From one hedgehog to a whole community
At the launch, we shared an ambition: to encourage councils, landowners, schools and residents to work together and make their communities more hedgehog-friendly.
A single garden can provide a valuable refuge. When neighbouring gardens and green spaces are connected, they can become part of a much larger network of safe places for wildlife.
Amazing Grace is about giving people the knowledge and inspiration to make those changes — and showing that everyone has a part to play.
Discover more about Grace’s story and the challenges facing Britain’s hedgehogs: