A CAMPAIGN spearheaded by a Bromsgrove man to save 5,000 doomed hedgehogs on remote islands in the Outer Hebrides has been given a ray of hope.
Scottish National Heritage (SNH) wants to cull the prickly animals on North and South Uist and Benbecular because of their passion for the eggs of rare wading birds.
But the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, chaired by Conservative county councillor Peter Fellows from South Road, Hagley, hopes they may still be reprieved by being caught and sent to other part of Britain including Worcestershire. This follows a decision by SNH to allow interested groups to attempt the task.
Peter says the society's 10,000 members nationwide have chipped in with an astonishing £50,000 to pay for the operation, which can only begin in the spring when the animals emerge from hibernation. The BHPS has petitioned the Scottish Parliament and has asked MPs to intervene and demand the hedgehogs be relocated. Mr Fallows has chaired the society for 18 months. He said: "I think we now have a window of opportunity, we have the funds and am confident we can carry out the task."
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