Environmental Protection with the Help of Street Art - Part 4
Urban metamorphosis: a highly successful project by a Hungarian NGO
Hedgehogs are one of the most popular wild animals, and they're not just children's favorites. With their shiny black eyes and protective armor, they are super cute and super cool. Everyone is happy to spot them wandering around on summer evenings. As they love to feed on garden pests, even farmers and gardeners have reason to welcome them.
Until late autumn, hedgehogs lead happy lives in urban areas. However, as the nights grow colder, they must find a place for winter hibernation — and with well-maintained gardens and immaculate lawns, this task becomes more difficult every year for all urban wildlife.
The third piece in Mondolo's Urban Metamorphosis project focuses on hedgehogs. The mural depicts Bazsi, a male northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), who is looking for a place to build his nest. Signs tell us that the animals prefer leaf piles and stacked green waste for hiding, but barn or tool shed nooks and crannies could also work.
The best way to help them is surely to leave our piles of leaves undisturbed for the winter. If that's not possible, placing a tiny hedgehog house in the corner of our garden can attract these small animals just as well. This is exactly what Mondolo did with the help of a local primary school. They made several wooden hedgehog houses and distributed them to kindergartens in town, so the children also learn about hedgehog conservation. As usual, all information and the manual on the DIY houses are available via QR codes. Hopefully, many people will find the idea of having a hedgehog friend cute enough to try making a home for one in their garden.
Leave a comment