Gills hog blog number 16.
Tales from the palace
Thank you to Croda.
Thank you to Croda.
Many of you will be familiar with the beautiful global headquarters of Croda International PLC, which can be seen as you drive through Cowick.
A stunning building fronted by beautifully manicured lawns offering an impressive welcome to visitors. The Hall actually stands in some 125 acres and what you can't see are the huge, unspoilt deciduous woodlands, ponds and scrub land behind the hall .
I was contacted by their UK sales manager recently who told me that the company are very keen to enhance biodiversity and were particularly keen to attract and support hedgehogs which are now very much endangered. He informed me that Croda is a local but multinational company with a strong environmental, and sustainability, ethos. I accepted their offer of a walk around to see what they have done so far.
I met with the Estate Manager, Sarah Saxelby and was taken on a lovely tour of huge areas of unspoilt and untended land, full of fallen trees, leaves, shallow ponds and woods. Basically a hedgehog paradise, which already supports a wonderful variety of flora and fauna.
The Company's biodiversity team had already been in contact with the RSPB and a wildflower expert, amongst others and lots of feeding stations have been erected, along with extensive tree planting and natural wood chip walkways for staff members to enjoy. All areas of wilderness (some of which are fragmented from the main wilderness area) are connected by corridors of long grass, which is perfect for small mammals like hedgehogs to roam in their search for ground level invertebrates. Even better hedgehogs have been seen in the grounds which alleviated the fears I had re suitability.
I was invited to give a presentation to staff who were keen to know what do if they find a sick hedgehog. Staff members have already volunteered to patrol the grounds to look for potential hazards and to support feed the hedgehogs in times of hardship.
The first two hogs were released at the end of March and I beleive they will have a wonderful life there. It will be the first of many releases I hope and the beginning of a wonderful wildlife partnership.
How lovely that a local Company has shown concern and pledged to do something meaningful and important to protect our native wildlife.
Hats off to Croda.
Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release.
Gill Dixon runs Pricklington Palace Hedgehog rescue here in Howden. Purely voluntarily and single handedly. Please visit www.facebook.com/pricklingtonpalace/ to support her work. Donations via www.paypal.me/Dixon1829
