14/09/2026
ATTENTION GATEFORD RESIDENTS! 🦔
Our ‘closed off’ Hedgehog Highways have recently raised a few questions, so the children and staff of Whipman Woods wanted to offer some reassurance.
We have had no choice but to close a small number of the hedgehog highways leading directly onto our school field and playground. Quite simply, some of the openings were large enough that our youngest children could potentially fit through them!
We haven’t yet met a hedgehog quite that large, but judging by the size of the flaps, Gateford must be home to some pretty impressive hedgehogs! 😂🦔
Before closing them, we made sure there were still plenty of safe access and exit points around the school perimeter, including gaps beneath gates and fences, where our prickly visitors can comfortably come and go.
As a school, we teach our children to respect our environment, each other and all living things, so the wellbeing of our local wildlife is very important to us.
However, the safety of our children must come first, which is why this small number of highways had to be closed. Those that do not lead directly onto the field or playground remain open.
So please be reassured — both our little people and our little hedgehogs have been carefully considered! 🥰🦔
Thank you for understanding and caring. ❤️
