Attention was focused on some of our spikiest friends during wildlife week, which gave many children and families that chance to become ’citizen scientists’.

The Manx Wildlife Trust held a ’Helping Hedgehogs’ workshop, in conjunction with the launch of the National Biodiversity Network Atlas Isle of Man, the 2018 Year of Our Island project and wildlife week, to help them assertain whereabouts hedgehogs are more common in the island.

Special tunnels were handed to volunteers, who were told how and where was best to set them up, and how to identify what animals had made the tracks through the ink on the tunnel floor.

Dawn Dickens, from the Manx Wildlife Trust, said that she hoped that people will join in and help them find out more about hedgehog activity in the Isle of Man.

’We are trying to get the idea of the citizen scientist going,’ said Dawn.

’That is where people take a record of things they see and letting us know about it. What we wanted to do with the hedgehogs also ties in nicely with the NBN atlas.

’What you spot when you are out there, and what you see when you are out walking in the environment is really important to us.

’These tunnels cost £15 each, and they come with everything you need, like the ink and the food to bait the tunnels with and so on.

’The idea is that the hedgehogs are attracted into the tunnels by the food, and they walk through some ink, which leaves a trail of footprints we can identify.

’The ink we used is organic and natural, and contains nothing that will hurt or harm the hedgehogs.’

During the workshop, children and familes were told about the habits of hedgehogs, and were introduced to some live hogs, before being given instructions on how to set up the tunnels and how to catch their tracks and how to record and identify them.

’We showed how we can analyse the footprints, and eliminate which ones aren’t hedgehogs and, if we keep records over five consecutive nights, we can start to build a picture of where the hedgehogs we have her on the island are living,’ she continued.

’The volunteer scientists will need to record the dates the tunnel was laid, where it was, and what bait was used and so on.’

’We all love hedgehogs, don’t we? They are such lovely little things, and the hedgehog survey is something that we thought would encourage many people to get involved with.’

Dawn said that they are still looking for more citizen scientists to take part in the survey, and that hedgehog tunnels can be obtained by emailing education @ manxwt.org.uk.

She would also like to hear from any school or community groups, such as cubs or brownies groups, who would like to take part.