Help set up footprint tunnels for a hedgehog survey on Mitcham Common

The Mitcham Hedgehog Project are looking for volunteers to help set up footprint tunnels for a hedgehog survey on Mitcham Common. They will be re-surveying a particular section of the common to check that hedgehogs are still present.

Hedgehogs leave very distinct footprints which can be used to determine the species’ presence. Footprint tunnels are simply made up of plastic triangular tunnels with a removable insert to which A4 paper is attached. A vegetable oil and charcoal ink is painted on either side of a dish of bait. As a hedgehog moves through the tunnel, it walks on the ink and leaves footprints on the paper which can then be identified. Tunnels are monitored daily for 3-5 consecutive days.

During this sessions volunteers will walk approximately 3km to prepare the tunnels and record the locations on What3Words. As this is the set up day, you will not see any hedgehog footprints.

Please note: At times we will be walking on uneven ground and will be bending down to place the tunnels.

When: Wednesday 30th July What time: 7pm - 8.30pm Where: Meeting at the grass next to the Mill House Ecology Centre - Windmill Road, CR4 1HT