Written question WQ84630

The hedgehog is listed under section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 as a species of principle importance. Public authorities have a duty under the Act to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity whilst carrying out its functions and in doing so have regard to the section 7 list. A number of Local planning Authorities have, for example, pressured housing estate designers to include hedgehog passages in fence designs as a requirement of planning permission.

Welsh Government is contributing funding towards the NRW led Natur am Byth project, which will deliver priority actions as identified in the refreshed Nature Recovery Action plan to support habitats and species of principle importance, the hedgehog is a species of principal importance.

My officials also work with Welsh Government Transport Directorate on the provision of wildlife underpasses on trunk roads and green corridor features along road verges, embankments and cuttings. For example the Newtown and Caernarfon/Bontnewydd bypasses have ‘dry pipes’ under them specifically for wildlife, these are in addition to drainage requirements.